The End of a Marriage Quotes: Finding Closure and Moving Forward

The End of a Marriage Quotes

The end of a marriage can be one of the most emotionally difficult experiences in life. Whether the marriage ended in divorce or due to the death of a spouse, the sense of loss and change can be profoundly painful. However, the end of one chapter opens the door for the next chapter to begin.

With time and self-care, you can find closure, heal, and eventually move forward. Here are Best quotes about the ending of marriage to help provide wisdom, perspective, and hope during this transition.

The Grieving Process

1. “There is an acceptable level of grief. It is called continuance.” – Jessica Katoff

The end of a significant relationship deserves a period of grief and mourning. Allowing yourself to fully process the emotions can help lead to acceptance, healing and finally continuity where you can function in daily life again. Suppressing grief for too long can cause greater emotional turmoil down the road.

2. “Grief is the price we pay for love.” – Queen Elizabeth II

When a marriage that was once filled with love ends, grieving is part of the process we must go through before we can wholly love again. The depth of grief often reflects the depth of love that once was.

Letting Go and Moving On

3. “Separation gives you time to reflect on your marriage and decide if there is anything worth saving.” – Nicholas Sparks, Safe Haven

4. “Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be.” – Unknown

During a separation or after a divorce is finalized, letting go of the marriage that once was can be an immense challenge. However, holding on too tightly prevents you from moving forward. Determine what aspects of the marriage are worth preserving in friendship, and which need to be released to fully heal.

5. “Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” – Dave Mustaine

The act of moving forward is a simple concept but profoundly difficult when your heart remains attached to the past. Surround yourself with patient, loving friends and family who support you during this complex transition.

black man holding marriage rang thinking about end of marriage divorce

Seeking Purpose and Meaning

6. “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.” – Haruki Murakami

The dissolution of marriage marks the end of one phase of life but also the beginning of another. You will be forever changed by this experience in ways that may surprise you. Seek to find meaning in both the marriage and the life lessons of its ending.

7. “Endings are not always bad. Most times they’re just beginnings in disguise.” – Kim Harrison

The closing of one chapter is simultaneously the start of the next. Reframe the ending as an opportunity to grow in wisdom and create a new beginning aligned with your needs and values.

Rediscovering Inner Strength

8. “Getting divorced just because you don’t love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor

During a separation or after signing divorce papers, you may second guess if you made the right decision. However, staying simply due to comfort and familiarity rather than mutual love and respect leads nowhere positive. Have faith in trusting yourself.

9. “I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it.” – Maya Angelou

While the dissolution of your marriage impacts you greatly, you still maintain autonomy in how you process, heal and allow it to shape your personal growth positively. You define who you become on the other side of this ending.

10. “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

Rather than fixating on what you have lost, actively seek the opportunities, insights and possibilities that the ending of your marriage provides for the next chapter of your life.

woman letting go after end of marriage, relaxing in nature

Supporting Each Other in Letting Go

11. “There is no good way to say goodbye, I’ve learned. It’s hard for both people. The one leaving feels bad for causing pain. The one left behind feels cheated, deserted. There’s no right way to handle those goodbye words, or the empty spot left behind.” – Kate DiCamillo

During a separation and divorce, compassion towards one another smooths the transition even when painful emotions run high. Neither party intended to cause harm by falling out of love. Offer forgiveness whenever possible.

12. “We all make choices, but no one walks away unhurt.” – Cassandra Clare

In ending a marriage, difficult decisions must be made by both people that impact life greatly. However extricating yourself from an unhappy situation will still cause some level of mutual hurt. Do your best to minimize inflicting unnecessary pain through empathy.

13. “No relationship is all sunshine, but two people can share one umbrella and survive the storm together.” – Anonymous

While matrimony inherently contains both joy and challenges over the years, a resilient couple weathers ups and downs as a team. When one or both people disengage from working cooperatively to overcome issues, the marital foundation cracks. As problems escalate without collaborative solutions, splitting up may ultimately feel like the only option left.

Embracing Hope

14. “And I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you.” – Kiersten White

Just because this marriage dissolved does not mean you will never experience the sensations of profound love and happy commitment again one day. The end of this relationship does not reflect your self worth or lovability as a human being and partner. Keep your heart open to finding love anew.

15. “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” – James Dean

Rather than shutting part of your heart down in fear of future pain, love fully and deeply when the opportunity arises again. Live each day with passion and purpose without taking time for granted.

16. “Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” – Laini Taylor

During depressing times of grieving all you hoped for and dreamed of, hold onto hope tightly. Envision your ideal future once healing allows you to open the next chapter. Then take small steps daily guided by that light of hope and positivity to steadily transform loss into growth.

Bonus Ending Marriage Quotes:

  • “You don’t drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there.” – Edwin Louis Cole

  • “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about.” – Albert Camus

  • “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou

  • “I am a survivor. I’m more than what happened to me.” – Alex Elle

  • “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” – Michael Hyatt

  • “Closure is not a destination. It’s a process.” – Earl Sweatshirt

  • “Some endings are beginnings disguised as goodbyes.” – Paulo Coelho

  • “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell

  • “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin

  • “The hardest thing is not letting go, but remembering to let go every single day.” – Zheng Yixin

  • “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but remembering that it was ever good.” – Sarah Moultroup

  • “The strongest and kindest words I know: it’s over.” – Charles Bukowski

Conclusion:

The end of a treasured marriage deserves significant time and support to process this monumental life change. By practicing tender self-care, expressing emotions genuinely, and embracing both grief and hope, while leaning on loved ones, you will navigate this challenging transition.

Use these Best ending marriage quotes to gain perspective, wisdom and comfort during the difficult days, until you’re able to wholeheartedly enjoy the promise of an emerging new chapter.