Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our link at no extra cost to you. For more information, please visit our Disclaimer Page.
Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel? Like you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work? I get it.
We all go through moments when continuing feels impossible.
The journey toward our goals isn’t always straightforward, and sometimes the path gets so steep that giving up seems like the only option.
Get the most out of our feel like giving up quotes on your dreams. If you have been trying to achieve a goal for a long time, it can be difficult to keep going.
But if you really want something, you have to keep fighting for it.
In this post i’ll go over why we too often want to give, quotes to inspire you to not give up, and if you found yourself giving up-tips to find ourself again and move.
Buckle up, its quite fulfilling!
Table of Contents
Why Do People Feel Like Giving Up?
Life has a way of testing our resilience. When obstacles appear one after another, it’s natural to question if the journey is worth continuing. Let’s explore some common reasons why you might feel like surrendering:
Taking Mistakes as Final
We often interpret setbacks as permanent failures rather than temporary obstacles. When disappointment follows disappointment, it’s easy to believe that success isn’t meant for us.
Remember that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of it. Every mistake provides valuable information about what doesn’t work, bringing you one step closer to what does.
Seeing Others Succeed While You Struggle
Social media makes it easy to compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reels. Watching others achieve rapid success while you’re still grinding can trigger feelings of inadequacy and make you question your path.
What you don’t see are their struggles, failed attempts, and moments of doubt. Learning to stop comparing yourself to others is crucial for maintaining your motivation.
Lack of Support
When family and friends don’t understand your vision or provide the encouragement you need, the journey can feel isolating. Sometimes the people closest to us, who we expect to be our biggest cheerleaders, aren’t there when we need them most.
Building a network of like-minded individuals who share your aspirations can provide the support system you need when your inner circle falls short.
Taking Criticism Personally
Criticism, even when constructive, can sting. If you internalize every negative comment, you might find your confidence eroding over time.
Developing resilience means learning to filter feedback. Take what’s useful, discard what isn’t, and keep moving forward with your goals.
Self-Sabotage Through Negative Expectations
Sometimes we become our own worst enemies by assuming failure before we’ve even begun. This negative mindset becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
If you believe everything will go wrong, you’re programming yourself for disappointment. Conversely, cultivating optimism creates space for success to find you.
Sad Quotes About Giving Up That Will Make You Think Twice
Sometimes reading about others’ experiences with surrender can provide perspective. These quotes capture the melancholy of giving up but also serve as powerful reminders of what’s at stake:
“The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.” – Kobe Bryant
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison
“When you give up on life, never give up on yourself, because there is so much for you to keep on giving!” – Oprah Winfrey
These words remind us that quitting doesn’t just affect our goals—it fundamentally changes how we see ourselves. The regret of abandoning a dream often hurts more than the struggle to achieve it.
Motivational Quotes to Keep Going When Times Get Tough
When determination wavers, sometimes all you need is a powerful reminder to push forward:
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” – Theodore Roosevelt
These inspirational quotes about not giving up have sustained countless individuals through their darkest hours. Print them out, set them as your phone background, or recite them as mantras when your resolve begins to falter.
Being positive when you feel like giving up
The feeling and level of positivity are different for everyone. Some people find it by doing things they enjoy, others by spending time with friends and family.
We all have different ways of staying positive in dark times, but it is important to remember that everything will get better eventually.
You have to think about your dreams, think about the reason you began with, reflect on how far you have come, and build courage in the rough times.
Here are the 33 best feel like giving up quotes
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
– Henry Ford.
In the cycle of nature, there is no such thing as victory or defeat; there is only movement.”
– Paulo Coelho, Manuscript Found in Accra
Embrace the seasons and cycles of your life. There is magic in change.”
– Bronnie Ware.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
– Albert Einstein.
Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”
– Theodore Roosevelt.
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
– Martin Luther King Jr
Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”
– Margaret Atwood.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
– Confucius.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
– John Lennon
Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.”
-T. Harv Eker
“You have no control over other people’s taste, so focus on staying true to your own.”
-Tim Gunn
Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
-Christopher Robin
To anyone that ever told you you’re no good … They’re no better.”
-Hayley Williams
If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.”
-T. Harv Eker
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
-Dale Carnegie
“You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you can’t have it.”
-Dr. Robert Anthony.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson.
No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them.”
—Maeve Grayson.
I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
—Jimmy Dean.
Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
—Robert. H. Schuller.
Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.”
– Jack Ma.
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt.
No matter what you’re going through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
—Demi Lovato.
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says: ‘I’m possible!’”
-Audrey Hepburn
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
-C.S. Lewis.
It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going, and determination to finish.”
—Eddie Harris, Jr.
Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”
-Mia Hamm
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
—Earl Nightingale
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
—Pele
The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.”
—Robert Tew.
Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything.”
—Marilyn Monroe
It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”
—Babe Ruth
I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
—Thomas Edison.
How to Stay Strong When You Want to Quit
Feeling like giving up is normal, but staying strong takes strategy. Try these steps to keep going when challenges feel overwhelming:
1. Reconnect With Your Purpose
When daily tasks drain you, step back and revisit why you began. Your purpose acts as fuel when motivation dips.
- Write down your reasons for starting.
- Create a visual reminder of your goals, like a simple list or collage.
2. Break Goals Into Smaller Steps
Big goals can feel intimidating. Focus on one step at a time.
- Divide tasks into achievable actions.
- Celebrate small wins to build confidence.
3. Prioritize Self-Care
Exhaustion often signals a need for rest, not quitting.
- Schedule regular breaks and sleep.
- Stay active and eat nourishing meals.
4. Seek Support
Share your goals with trusted friends or a mentor.
- Join groups with similar aims.
- Ask others to check in on your progress.
5. Train Your Mind to Persevere
Build mental strength with daily habits:
- Replace doubts with facts about past successes.
- Picture yourself overcoming obstacles.
- Reflect on progress made so far.
- Repeat phrases like, “I can handle this.”
Positive thinking reshapes how your brain responds to stress.
What to Say When Someone Feels Like Giving Up
If someone you care about struggles, try these supportive phrases:
- “I believe in you, even if you doubt yourself right now.”
- “This tough phase will pass. Let’s focus on today.”
- “You’ve handled hard things before. This is no different.”
- “What’s one small step you can take now?”
- “Rest if needed, but don’t walk away yet.”
Sometimes, listening matters more than advice.
How to Find New Motivation After Giving Up
If you paused a goal but want to restart:
Revisit Your Reasons
Ask: “Why does this matter to me now?” Updated answers can reignite drive.
Focus on Actions, Not Outcomes
Set daily tasks you control, like “work for 30 minutes” instead of “win an award.”
Seek New Perspectives
Explore books, podcasts, or conversations that offer fresh ideas.
Start Small
Build momentum with tiny, consistent efforts instead of overworking.
Final Thoughts: Your Journey Continues
Remember that feeling like giving up is part of every meaningful journey. It’s not the absence of doubt that defines resilience, but the choice to continue despite it.
Your path won’t be linear. There will be peaks and valleys, sprints and rest periods. The key is to keep moving forward, even if sometimes that means taking a step back to gain perspective.
What matters isn’t that you never falter, but that you find the courage to begin again—perhaps wiser, more focused, and with greater compassion for yourself along the way.
When you look back on this chapter of your life, let it be a story of perseverance rather than surrender. Your future self will thank you for the decision to keep going when giving up seemed like the easier choice.
What challenge are you facing right now that’s testing your resolve? Remember: this moment of struggle isn’t your final story—it’s just a challenging chapter in your journey of growth.