By Being kind to others is a wonderful gesture, yet it’s equally important to prioritize establishing boundaries quotes to safeguard our own well-being. These quotes serve as a clear division between our personal responsibilities and those of others.
Since each individual has their own unique interpretations of these boundaries, it’s crucial to acquire the skill of articulating and sharing them, even if it may seem intimidating and daunting. Whether directed inwardly, towards family, friends, colleagues, unfamiliar faces, or society at large, take charge of defining and upholding your boundaries. To aid you in this journey, we offer a compilation of insightful quotes on the subject of boundaries.
Boundaries represent a mental divide separating our being from others. It entails understanding our limits and distinguishing our realm from theirs. A robust boundary entails taking ownership of our actions and feelings while granting others the same responsibility for their own. By steadfastly guarding the gates of our existence, we foster respect and empathy, deterring unwelcome intrusion from uncomfortable individuals and situations.
However, let’s keep in mind that the goal is not to construct impervious barriers, but rather to craft fences that safeguard our mental wellness and overall well-being.
To assist you in commencing, we’ve curated over 80 quotes on boundaries, focusing on establishing limits within your relationships.
Quotes About Boundaries
1. When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. This is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behavior or a choice.
Brené Brown
2. Those who get angry when you set a boundary are the ones you need to set boundaries for.
J.S. Wolfe
3. You have to love and respect yourself enough to not let people use and abuse you. You have to set boundaries and keep them, let people clearly know how you won’t tolerate to be treated, and let them know how you expect to be treated.
Jeanette Coron
4. Our boundaries define our personal space – and we need to be sovereign there in order to be able to step into our full power and potential.
Jessica Moore
5. You are in control of your life. Set new boundaries by removing all of the toxic people from your inner circle.
Germany Kent
6. Creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration for boundaries, can lead you to the path of personal happiness.
Nancy B. Urbach
7. If someone is inconsiderate or rude to you, risk telling them how it made you feel or that you didn’t appreciate being treated that way. If you tend to talk yourself out of anger by telling yourself that you don’t want to make waves, try telling yourself instead that it is okay to make waves sometimes and risk letting people know how you really feel.
Beverly Engel
8. If someone thinks you’re being dramatic or selfish, then they obviously haven’t walked a mile in your shoes. It’s not important for you to explain yourself. You get a pass here. Don’t let anyone else try to saddle you with guilt or shame. If you need your space, take it.
Sarah Newman
9. The more you value yourself, the healthier your boundaries are.
Lorraine Nilon
10. When you notice someone does something toxic the first time, don’t wait for the second time before you address it or cut them off. Many survivors are used to the “wait and see” tactic which only leaves them vulnerable to a second attack. As your boundaries get stronger, the wait time gets shorter. You never have justify your intuition.
Shahida Arabi
11. Give yourself permission to envision a big life, a happy life. Accept your greatness. Don’t settle! You didn’t come here to play small or make someone else’s dreams come true. You’re meant for everything that’s written in your heart, but it’s up to you.
Kristen Butler
12. Just as we expect others to value our boundaries, it’s equally important for us to respect the boundaries of others.
Laurie Buchanan, PhD
13. Setting a boundary” means protecting your joy and well-being by telling someone to stop a harmful behavior. Practice setting a boundary try saying: “I can’t let you x. I need y.
Lauren Martin, Anger is a Storm
14. Evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of any relationship is your responsibility. You do not have to passively accept what is brought to you. You can choose.
Deborah Day
15. If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won’t like you. It may not be easy, but it’s essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs.
Cheryl Richardson
16. No” is a complete sentence.
Annie Lamott
17. Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recognition of personal space.
Asa Don Brown
Setting Boundaries Quotes
18. Lack of boundaries invites lack of respect.
Anonymous
19. The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.
Tara Brach
20. When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.
Brené Brown
21. Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom.
Henry Cloud
22. The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘No’ to almost everything.
Warren Buffett
23. No is a complete sentence.
Anne Lamont
24. It is necessary, and even vital, to set standards for your life and the people you allow in it.
Mandy Hale
25. Your personal boundaries protect the inner core of your identity and your right to choices.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
26. Who you are is speaking so loudly that I can’t hear what you’re saying.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
27. We can say what we need to say. We can gently, but assertively, speak our mind. We do not need to be judgmental, tactless, blaming or cruel when we speak our truths.
Melody Beattie
28. I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
Maya Angelou
29. No one will listen to us until we listen to ourselves.
Marianne Williamson
30. Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.
Eckhart Tolle
31. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
Anonymous
32. You get what you tolerate.
Henry Cloud
33. Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.
Doreen Virtue
34. You best teach others about healthy boundaries by enforcing yours.
Bryant McGill
35. We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.
Henry Cloud
36. You have the right to say ‘No’ without feeling guilty.
Manuel J. Smith
37. Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.
Brené Brown
Family Boundaries Quotes
38. Tell them that you love them, and you want them in your life, but not as the relationship is now. Paint a positive picture of the relationship with clear boundaries so that they can completely understand your reasons.
Chase Hill
39. When siblings continue to break boundaries, you will need to have a more serious conversation. It might be that they weren’t listening the first time around, or that they didn’t feel that you were serious enough.
Chase Hill
40. A good way to start looking at what boundaries to set is to create two lists: one for what you need, and another for what the family needs.
Chase Hill
41. It’s a shame that there are times when family members don’t respect our boundaries.
Chase Hill
42. If a family member insists on crossing the limits you’ve clearly set, it’s time to create that space for your own wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be forever. But if they aren’t willing to understand the importance of your needs, happiness and life, you’re better off removing them from the equation so that you can look after yourself.
Chase Hill
43. A parent who is authoritative is one who actively listens to their child without dismissing thoughts, feelings and ideas. At the same time as respecting a child for who they are, an authoritative parent will set and maintain boundaries. They will understand the importance of give and take with a child, instead of setting rules that can never be broken.
Chase Hill
44. A child expressing anger should be allowed to explain how they feel. But if they throw something in a rage or become physically violent, there has to be a consequence.
Chase Hill
45. When looking at establishing boundaries with different family members, begin by making sure you’re clear of what these boundaries look like and if there’s room for give and take, depending on your relationship and their expectations. Prepare yourself so that you’re in the right frame of mind and are feeling as confident as possible.
Chase Hill
46. As older people, parents are often stuck in their ways. You might find that they’re also from a generation of authoritarian parents, where there was no other choice but to listen to and obey the rules of the parents. If your parents never set boundaries with their parents, it could be harder for you.
Chase Hill
47. Also, many times, parents are completely unaware that their actions are upsetting you. By now you have probably tried having a conversation, but your parents continue to break your boundaries.
Chase Hill
48. Just because they’re your parents, it doesn’t mean you should give up on your boundaries and accept that this is how life is going to be.
Chase Hill
49. Nobody but you knows how you feel, what boundaries you want to set, or the type of relationship you hope to get out of it.
Chase Hill
50. Keep telling yourself that you aren’t a child anymore, and that you are an independent human being who deserves respect from everyone, including your parents.
Chase Hill
51. What’s equally important as establishing boundaries with your parents is to follow through with the consequences. Empty promises will only encourage parents to cross other lines.
Chase Hill
52. Establishing boundaries with your parents isn’t a competition, but you can feel slightly outnumbered if you’re planning to have a conversation with two people on your own.
Chase Hill
53. Cultural differences can be extremely challenging, but that’s not to say that you don’t have the right to establish your boundaries as you see fit. For those who come from a culture where close relationships and intrusive behavior are part of the norm, it’s hard to see your friends enjoy a more relaxed and less controlling relationship with their parents.
Chase Hill
54. If you’ve tried to implement boundaries and your parents aren’t making any effort to change, or you’ve reached the point where you mentally can’t take any more, it’s time to step away and limit the contact as much as possible.
Chase Hill
55. Some parents will learn very quickly that you’re determined to maintain your boundaries. Others will test the limits you have in place in the hope they’re able to find your weak spot and regain their control, which is why persistence and determination are critical.
Chase Hill
56. As with boundaries and our family members, there’s a wide spectrum with regards to the need for boundaries. There could be niggly things that cause arguments or more severe issues such as narcissism, codependency, and abuse.
Chase Hill
Quotes About Setting Boundaries
57. Individuals set boundaries to feel safe, respected, and heard.
Pamela Cummins
58. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.
Anna Taylor
59. It is necessary, and even vital, to set standards for your life and the people you allow in it.
Mandy Hale
60. Setting emotional boundaries prevent people from manipulating you, using you, and playing with your feelings.
Remez Sasson
61. Every human being must have boundaries in order to have successful relationships or a successful performance in life.
Henry Cloud
62. When people set boundaries with you, it’s their attempt to continue the relationship with you. It’s not an attempt to hurt you.
Elizabeth Earnshaw
63. Setting boundaries in a relationship implies your attempt to continue the relationship in a healthy way. It’s not an attempt to hurt the other person.
Shilpa
64. Families living in dysfunction seldom have healthy boundaries. Dysfunctional families have trouble knowing where they stop and others begin.
David W. Earle
65. Do not justify, apologize for, or rationalize the healthy boundary you are setting. Do not argue. Just set the boundary calmly, firmly, clearly, and respectfully.
Crystal Andrus
66. Emotional self-defense… When you set healthier relationship standards in your life, some people will take it personally. That’s their issue, not yours. The distance isn’t against them; it’s for you. It’s a boundary, not a grudge.
Steve Maraboli
67. Love yourself enough to set boundaries.
Anna Taylor
68. I set boundaries not to offend you but to respect myself.
Unknown
69. Boundaries protect the things that are of value to you.
Adelyn Birch
70. The boundaries of your life are merely a creation of the self.
Robin Sharma
71. When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you’re not saying ‘no’ to yourself.
Paulo Coelho
72. Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.
Doreen Virtue
73. Boundary setting helps you prioritize your needs over other people’s wants.
Lauren Kenson
74. When someone oversteps your boundaries, they’re letting you know that what you want doesn’t matter.
Phil Good
Quotes About Respecting Boundaries
75. A lack of respect for physical, emotional, and sexual boundaries can lead to abuse by family members or by unsafe people who are allowed into the home. If you grew up in a family with weak boundaries, you probably learned that you can’t trust your parents to keep you safe. You experience the world as unpredictable and scary.
Sharon Martin
76. Boundaries are established in two parts: (1) verbally communicating them to others, and (2) taking action, whether implementing consequences or removing yourself from interactions with people who won’t or don’t respect your boundaries.
Nedra Glover Tawwab
77. Boundaries are the cure to most relationship problems. But both parties have to participate and respect the boundaries on either side.
Nedra Glover Tawwab
78. But boundaries are inherently respectful because they communicate our expectations and help others understand how to interact with us—what’s okay and what’s not okay.
Sharon Martin
79. Conversely, enforcing consequences is assertive; you’re standing up for yourself in a way that respects you and the other person.
Sharon Martin
80. I hope you find that standing up for yourself is a worthy endeavor, a reflection of your right to respectful and fair treatment, and a step toward being more confident and assertive, even if others are unwilling to listen.
Sharon Martin
81. If someone repeatedly disrespects your boundaries, it doesn’t mean that you’re doing it wrong or that you shouldn’t set boundaries with this person. More likely, it means that you need to try a different approach to setting your boundary and increase your self-care to cope with this person.
Sharon Martin
82. If you communicated your boundary clearly and it wasn’t respected, go back to your brainstorming list and see if you can create a new boundary plan that is within your control.
Sharon Martin
83. In healthy relationships, communicating your needs is welcomed and respected. In unhealthy relationships, people ignore you, push back, or even challenge your boundaries.
Nedra Glover Tawwab
84. In some cases, your parents might suggest that setting boundaries is disrespectful. But it isn’t disrespectful when done with care. If you’re afraid of disrespecting your parents, you might feel better sharing why the boundary is important to you
Nedra Glover Tawwab
85. It’s typical for people to be resistant to changes in a relationship. It can be confusing at first. However, if someone respects you, they will respect these changes. We all grow and evolve, and our relationships must do the same.
Nedra Glover Tawwab
Discover the multitude of advantages linked to establishing and upholding wholesome boundaries. Allow these quotes concerning healthy boundaries to ignite your inspiration as you draw those definitive lines. Bear in mind, it’s alright if your boundaries aren’t consistently respected; mastering the art of boundary setting requires patience and dedication. Above all, remain authentic to your own essence. Should you require assistance, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from friends, family, or experts.
Establishing boundaries isn’t an act of selfishness; rather, it’s a means of honoring your needs and cultivating sound, wholesome relationships.
By effectively conveying and steadfastly upholding your boundaries, you grant yourself empowerment while fostering more robust dynamics within your life.
