Popular Quotes About the Loss of a Spouse

Sometimes, a single quote can be as effective as an entire book or essay. It’s incredible the impact just a sentence or two can have on our perspective, thought process, and worldview. In fact, some people base their whole ideology on a famous quote. Think of Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” or Tolkien’s quote, “Not all who wander are lost.” After the loss of a spouse, quotes can inspire, comfort, or provide a sense of solace. They can be easily memorized, posted on a mirror or refrigerator, and referenced when we need consolation. Here are ten quotes to read after the loss of a spouse:

• “Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” - Lord Alfred Tennyson

• “Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch.” - Jack Thorne

• “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” - Thomas Campbell

• "Grief is the price we pay for love." - Queen Elizabeth II

• "The pain of grief is just as much part of life as the joy of love; it is perhaps the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment." - Dr. Colin Murray Parkes

• "Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim." - Vicki Harrison

• "In the depths of grief, I find solace knowing that the love my spouse and I shared will forever be etched in my heart." - Unknown

• "At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."  - Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Reimer

• "It's so curious; One can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses." -  Colette

• "Make the most of your regrets; Never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it 'til it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh."  - Henry David Thoreau

A quote that resonates during times of grief can feel like a warm blanket. It can be carried around with you and used whenever you need comfort and warmth. After the loss of a spouse, moments when we need comfort, may come more frequently, and reading or remembering a favorite quote can help us to feel less alone in our pain, knowing that others have found words to express how they felt during their time of mourning.