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Written by Emily Cross.
14 minute read
Finding fitting words at a time when emotions might be running high can be something that many of us struggle with. While it might feel natural to want to shut down or keep your distance, our experience has been that great comfort can be found in the words of others.
Writers, famous figures, and people from everyday life have all found words to express how they feel about grief and death that you may find helpful. In our role as a provider of direct cremation services, we have come across countless phrases, quotes, and passages that have expressed emotions and conveyed meaning when nothing else could.
In this guide, we want to share some of them with you so that you might find something to anchor yourself to during difficult times.
Key takeaways:
Quotes are commonly used to articulate complicated emotions because they allow us to use the words of others to encapsulate a feeling and share an outlook. They can offer time to reflect, a chance to heal, and even express the concept of shared mourning.
As a family-run funeral provider who is passionate about helping and supporting in any way we can, we believe that quotes may often serve as suitable expressions both publicly and privately.
Just as there are different symbols of grief, there are also different categories, styles, and types of loss quotes. Finding the right words for the way you feel begins by considering the broad categories that exist.
Death and mourning may feel like overwhelming topics and journeys to have to work through right now, but there are ways forward you may wish to consider. Some may find the following quotes speak to them or resonate with how they are feeling:
You may notice that they are generally introspective and observant in tone. This may help you to gradually come to terms with the gravity of the situation and move beyond the initial shock and feelings of unfairness.
We all talk about death and dying in our own way with some finding that focusing on honouring and remembering feels most natural. Here are some quotes that are focused mainly on the idea of legacy and a continued emotional connection:
Quotes of this nature are typically used in memorials, tributes, and sympathy cards when you want to convey a message of remembrance. They may also provide a sense of perspective by showing that the initial period of intense grief will fade and that the memories of the person who has died will remain.
You may find that quotes that speak about coping, resilience, and healing resonate with you on a personal level:
Quotes of this sort are focused on acknowledging grief and emotional trauma without unwittingly minimising it. If you feel that a particular quote speaks to how you want to approach your healing journey, you may decide that sharing it with a friend is an empowering act.
Knowing how to cope with grief is as much about reflecting on the specific nature of the relationship you had with the person who died as it is about following a step-by-step process. This is because every person in our lives has a unique place, purpose, and position within our world. Who they were and how they died may profoundly affect the type of quote that you gravitate towards.
An unexpected death may be so sudden that it creates a profound sense of shock and disbelief. The following quote may provide some degree of comfort and perspective at such an unpredictable and turbulent time:
The idea here is to show that some part of the person who has died remains with you. Their memories, legacy, and contributions will live on with the people who are still here, allowing their influence to be felt for many years to come. This connects with the idea of considering how the person who has died would provide comfort if they were still with you in person. Many people may find this outlook helpful, particularly when coping with the death of a parent or partner.
Losing someone who is very close to you may leave a hole in your life that you feel will never be filled. This is natural and understandable. Sometimes a quote that focuses on a universal truisms and emotional insights may help you move through the grieving process in a way that makes you feel more in control:
What you may notice about both of these quotes is that they deliberately avoid direct mention of the nature of the relationship you have with the person who has died. This approach is something that you may feel gives you enough emotional space and distance at a time when you are not able to fully open up to yourself about the way you are feeling.
If, on the other hand, you feel ready to take the next step and don’t feel that you resonate with these types of quotes, you may find our eulogy examples helpful. It may be that writing a longer piece yourself that pays tribute and remembers your loved one allows you to start processing your emotions on a deeper level.
Quotes can be shared in places such as personal journals, condolence and sympathy cards, and on your social media profiles. They can also be turned into wall art or even a bookmark that you like to hold as an act of personal reflection. Others may find that reading the quote aloud during a memorial service or a family gathering held several months after the funeral can help.
There are so many different sources of grief and loss quotes that it may be hard to know where to look first. Some of history’s great writers have created beautiful funeral poems, thoughtful eulogies, and moving memorial readings. There are also quotes to be found in religious texts, spiritual books, and the work of some of the great philosophers of each age. As this guide highlights, there is also a wide array of unattributed quotes from unknown authors that may help to convey and encapsulate how you feel right now.
You may find that quotes taken from works of poetry and philosophy are more artistic and elaborate in terms of their wording, while quotes from contemporary figures are more accessible. There is no right or wrong here, only what you resonate with and find helpful at this time.
The length, tone, and emotional weight of a quote are all things you may wish to consider when you are trying to select the most appropriate quote for the occasion. You may also wish to consider the specific stage or depth of grief as well. For example, a quote that talks about how the circle of life continues and life continues may not be the most appropriate quote to share in the hours and days after a death that was completely unexpected.
Another thing to consider is how the quote will be delivered. A spoken quote may lend itself more towards a poetic piece. A written quote could be given greater gravity and clarity if it can be attributed to a famous contemporary figure those reading will know on some level. Spending a little time reflecting on how you wish to deliver the quote may help you begin to process some of the complex emotions the quote elicits.
Short, emotionally resonant quotes lend themselves to platforms such as Instagram or Facebook, particularly when they are displayed as image quotes. Choosing a colour, font, and selection of graphical effects that align with the sentiment of the quote and the nature of the death may help you to further express how you are feeling right now. Putting pressure on yourself is understandable, but it’s the sentiment rather than the degree of perfection you achieve in terms of execution that people will appreciate.
Adopting a clear and striking format that is aligned with the quote and the stage of grief you are at may help you tie everything together. There is also the option to approach captioning as a way to share your own feelings and reflections on the quote. Some may find that this is a way to start opening up and reaching out so that they can begin to process some of the more complex emotions death creates.
Here is a quote that you may wish to consider reflecting on:
The idea here is to start rationalising the intense emotions that are at play by highlighting how they are the result of a loving relationship with someone. Seeing grief in these terms is something that may help you to start seeing that there are so many memories of the good times.
Every culture, religion, and belief system may go about dealing with the death of a loved one in a unique way. All approaches are equally valid and typically reflect the setting those who are grieving live in. Here are some examples that show the universal nature of the grieving process:
Even if you are agnostic or non-religious, you may find solace in quotes with religious origins. The universal nature of death and grief means that cultures throughout history and people from around the world may have experienced a journey very closely aligned to the one you are on right now. This in itself may provide a sense of comfort and support by showing you that you are never alone.
Citing well-known names in formal contexts such as on orders of service or condolence cards may add extra weight and gravity to the quote itself. Knowing that the quote reflects the views, hopes, and thoughts of someone the reader admires may help to show that grief is a human response everyone must work through at some point in life. An attributed quote may also feel less like a cliché and more like carefully chosen words.
Many of us learn how to break bad news from our parents and grandparents, and the same is often true of grieving and mourning. If another relative or a dear friend once offered a thought or reflection that resonated with you, you may feel you want to quote them.
Quoting a loved one may be particularly powerful if you and the wider family have a shared language or set of memories that can serve as additional context. If the quote is from an older relative who died some time ago, it may help remind the rest of the family that they are all together as they process a recent death.
We sincerely hope that you have found some words of comfort and support in the passages and quotations above. Each one has been chosen after a period of deep reflection and is intended to provide help when you feel ready to find solace in new places.
As your journey through grief continues to ebb and flow, you may arrive at a point where you want to consider your own legacy. If this is something you feel we can help with, our experts are always available to talk you through our prepaid funeral plans or to provide resources that compare funeral plans so that you can understand your options. We are here to help in a variety of different ways and are passionate about providing support and guidance on a personal level.
If you have any questions, would like a brochure or simply would like a chat through our services, our award-winning team is here to help.
Unlike other providers, we won’t hassle you with constant calls. We’ll simply ensure you have the information you need and leave you to come to a decision in your own time. When you’re ready for us, our team will be ready to help.
Yes, every religious text or scripture will contain quotations relating to death, grief, and loss. Many religious books have been refined over centuries and have been written based on an untold amount of reflection and thought. They may also provide you with a sense of permanence and familiarity that feels comfortable at a time when much of what you had taken for granted may be changing.
You may find that you connect with one of the quotes below:
Yes, quotes may be able to encapsulate how you feel in a single line of text that you can sit and reflect on. They could serve as things to anchor yourself to, additions to condolence cards, and even a piece of wall art or a picture on your phone that can be used to ground your emotions. Finding a way that feels appropriate may help you to continue processing your emotions.
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