21 Rejection Quotes to Motivate You to Persist

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rejected woman by trees

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Laura Berlinsky-Schine
Laura Berlinsky-Schine
Rejection hurts. And life is full of it: the broken heart when someone you love leaves, the job for which you thought you were a shoo-in, the audition you bombed, peer rejection...
Everybody is rejected at some point—usually many points—during the course of their lives.
Many people fear rejection, but the truth is, no one who's found success has ever done it without facing her fair share of rejection along the way. In short, there's no straight path to success; the way you handle rejection—and your ability to maintain your self-esteem when dealing with it—often dictates whether you'll ultimately achieve your goals. Here are X inspirational quotes filled with good advice to help you handle rejection and persevere.
"Who doesn't feel a part of their heart break at rejection? You ask yourself every question you can think of, what, why, how come, and then your sadness turns to anger. That's my favorite part. It drives me, feeds me, and makes one hell of a story.”―Jennifer Salaiz
“Everybody said, "Follow your heart". I did, it got broken”―Agatha Christie
"Personally, I've learned about perseverance: when you hear the word 'No,' and when you hear rejection, that it's not always final. And that timing is everything, and you have to stay the course and just keep working hard and know that, when your time comes, that it will be sweet and that it will be the perfect time."—Angela Robinson
“I know that when a door closes, it can feel like all doors are closing. A rejection letter can feel like everyone will reject us. But a closed door leads to clarity. It’s really an arrow. Because we cannot go through that door, we will go somewhere else. That somewhere else is your true life.”—Tama J. Kieves
“Rejection, though—it could make the loss of someone you weren't even that crazy about feel gut wrenching and world ending.”―Deb Caletti, The Secret Life of Prince Charming
“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval. Putting a voice to your soul helps you to let go of the negative energy of fear and regret.”—Shannon L. Alder
“Rejection is a challenge.”―Veronica Purcell
"There's no point in dwelling on rejection."—Isabel Lucas
"Don't feel bad if someone rejects you or ignore you. People usually reject and ignore expensive things because they can't afford them."— Author unknown
"Rejection isn't a sign that something is wrong for you it's a sign that they're wrong for you."—Sonya Parker
“When you're following your inner voice, doors tend to eventually open for you, even if they mostly slam at first.”―Kelly Cutrone, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You
“So many people will tell you ”no”, and you need to find something you believe in so hard that you just smile and tell them ”watch me”. Learn to take rejection as motivation to prove people wrong. Be unstoppable. Refuse to give up, no matter what. It’s the best skill you can ever learn.”―Charlotte Eriksson
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”—Helen Keller
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength."—Oprah Winfrey
“I know that when a door closes, it can feel like all doors are closing. A rejection letter can feel like everyone will reject us. But a closed door leads to clarity. It’s really an arrow. Because we cannot go through that door, we will go somewhere else. That somewhere else is your true life.”—Tama J. Kieves
"Just because you are different does not mean that you have to be rejected."—Eartha Kitt
"If I don't book a job, I like to see it not as a rejection but as a redirection to something different."—Bella Hadid
“Isn’t that the greatest tragedy? When someone rejects us, no matter how they abuse our love, we hope against reason that somehow they will come back to us.”―Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson, Mrs. Tuesday's Departure
"Learn not to take rejection so personally….If you’re honest with yourself and believe in your work, others will too."—Bev Jozwiak
"If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain."—Dolly Parton
"The effects of rejection can either kill your muse or change your life."—Jane Champagne