100 Quotes For Hard Times in Relationships To Build Love

Every relationship faces storms. Whether you're dealing with daily challenges or working through major hurdles, having the right words can help you stay focused on what matters most - your bond with each other. I've gathered 100 meaningful quotes that offer wisdom, comfort, and guidance for couples going through difficult times.

1. "Nobody likes conflict, but sweeping issues under the rug ultimately causes more damage than addressing things directly."

A straightforward reminder that avoiding problems only makes them bigger in the long run.

2. "You can't have a relationship without any fights, but you can make your relationship worth the fight."

This quote acknowledges that conflict is normal while emphasizing the importance of choosing to work through it.

3. "Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow."

A beautiful way of expressing how sharing both good and bad times strengthens relationships.

4. "Every relationship has its problems but what makes it perfect is when you still want to be there when everything goes wrong." - Ritu Ghatourey

Highlights how commitment during tough times defines true partnership.

5. "Trouble is part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you enough chance to love you enough." - Dinah Shore

Reminds us that vulnerability allows deeper connection. Looking for messages about rekindling love? Check out our collection of Getting Back Together Quotes and Messages for Second Chance Love .

6. "Compromise is an integral part of a relationship that works when both partners put in equal efforts to understand each other."

Emphasizes how mutual effort and understanding create relationship success.

7. "It takes one person to forgive, it takes two people to be reunited." — Lewis B. Smedes

A powerful observation about the collaborative nature of reconciliation.

8. "When you make the sacrifice in marriage, you're sacrificing not to each other but to unity in a relationship." – Joseph Campbell

Reframes sacrifice as an investment in the relationship itself.

9. "The best relationship is when you can act like lovers and best friends at the same time."

Captures the ideal balance of romance and friendship.

10. "Hold no grudges and practice forgiveness. This is the key to having peace in all your relationships." — Wayne Dyer

Offers practical advice for maintaining emotional harmony. Want to improve your relationship dialogue? Explore our Relationship Communication Quotes for Every Couple .

11. "It seems a lot of relationships fail, because when tough times come around... People want to give up too easy. Don't throw away a potential good lasting relationship just because things got a little hard." — Bryan Burden

A powerful reminder to persevere through challenges rather than giving up at the first sign of trouble.

12. "Relationships are hard work, but when the work is put in, the love is unstoppable." — Dyllan Murray

Emphasizes how effort and dedication can strengthen love over time.

13. "If you have a difficult marriage, it's the hard times that make it better. If you have a relationship, it's the hard times that actually make it better, and that goes for life as well." — Kerry Stokes

Shows how challenges can become opportunities for deeper connection.

14. "All relationships are tough. Just like with music, sometimes you have harmony and other times you have cacophony." — Gayle Forman

A beautiful metaphor comparing relationships to music's natural ups and downs.

15. "Assumptions are the termites of relationships." — Henry Winkler

A clever way of explaining how unspoken assumptions can slowly damage relationships. Need to apologize sincerely? Find the right words with our Heartfelt Sorry Messages for Her .

16. "The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree but to hold hands."

Illustrates how physical connection can help maintain emotional bonds during conflict.

17. "You can't just give up on someone because the situation's not ideal. Great relationships aren't great because they have no problems. They're great because both people care enough about the other person to find a way to make it work."

Highlights how commitment and problem-solving strengthen relationships.

18. "Let's not forget it's you and me vs. problem. Not you vs. me"

A simple but powerful reminder about maintaining unity when facing challenges.

19. "All relationships have one law. Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you're there."

Emphasizes the importance of emotional presence and support.

20. "Problem talk creates problems, Solution talk creates solutions." - Steve de Shazer

Encourages focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

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1. "Problems in relationship occur because each person is focusing on what is missing in the other person." - Wayne Dyer

A reminder to shift focus from what's lacking to what's present in your relationship.

2. "The extent to which two people in a relationship can bring up and resolve issues is a critical marker of the soundness of a relationship." - Henry Cloud

Highlights how problem-solving abilities indicate relationship health.

3. "Long-term relationships, the ones that matter, are all about weathering the peaks and the valleys." - Nicholas Sparks

Emphasizes how lasting relationships embrace both good and challenging times.

4. "We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence." - Cornel West

Lists the essential ingredients for a strong relationship foundation.

5. "Claiming responsibility is the sign of maturity. If either of the partners lacks it, the blame game will soon take center stage and rule the relationship."

Shows how personal accountability prevents relationship deterioration. Financial stress often tests relationships. Find wisdom in our Money and Relationship Quotes to help navigate money matters together.

6. "When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said." – Catherine Gilbert Murdock

A simple but powerful reminder about the importance of open communication.

7. "Whatever problems arise in a romantic relationship, it's important to face them together as a couple." — Anne Nwakama

Emphasizes the value of unity when tackling challenges.

8. "The purpose of a relationship is not to have another who might complete you, but to have another with whom you might share your completeness." — Neale Donald Walsch

Reframes relationships as partnerships between whole individuals.

9. "Relationships of all kinds are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is." — Kaleel Jamison

A beautiful metaphor about finding balance between holding on and letting go.

10. "I'm not telling you it is going to be easy—I am telling you it is going to be worth it." — Art Williams

Acknowledges relationship challenges while affirming their value.

11. "Successful relationships start by giving up control, giving up the need to be loved or wanted or right all the time." — Mark Manson

Points out how letting go of control strengthens relationships.

12. "Only when your love for someone exceeds your need for them do you have a shot at a genuine relationship together." — Neil Strauss

Describes the balance between love and attachment.

13. "You can't have a relationship with someone hoping they'll change. You have to be willing to commit to them as they are." — Neil Strauss

A crucial reminder about accepting your partner as they are.

14. "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." — Carl W. Buechner

Emphasizes the lasting impact of emotional connections.

15. "We can not control a relationship. We can only contribute to a relationship." — Simon Sinek

Highlights the importance of focusing on what we can control.

16. "Never leave a true relationship for a few faults. Nobody is perfect, nobody is correct, and in the end, affection is always greater than perfection."

Reminds us to value love over perfection.

17. "Relationships last long not because they're destined to last long. Relationships last long because two brave people made a choice. To keep it, fight for it and to work for it."

Emphasizes how commitment and choice sustain relationships.

18. "A beautiful relationship does not depend on how well we understand someone. But, It depends on how well we avoid misunderstanding."

Shows how preventing misunderstandings is as important as understanding.

19. "Great couples still get angry with each other, but they continue to discuss until there is a solution even if it takes several days." - Bob Grant

Describes how healthy couples handle conflict resolution.

20. "In any serious relationship, if you don't gather your partner's opinion before making a decision that impacts you both, you're just storing up trouble for the future." – Cindy Woodsmall

Stresses the importance of mutual decision-making.

1. "A relationship is like a house. When a light bulb burns out you do not go and buy a new house, you fix the light bulb." - Bernajoy Vaal

A simple metaphor showing how relationships need maintenance, not replacement.

2. "Relationships based on obligation lack dignity." - Wayne Dyer

Reminds us that authentic connection beats forced commitment.

3. "A lovers' quarrel is always about every quarrel you ever had." - Robert Brault

Shows how past conflicts influence present disagreements.

4. "Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. People are irrational." – Hugh Mackay

Accepts the natural chaos and imperfection in relationships.

5. "Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." – Bob Marley

Acknowledges that all relationships involve some pain, but some are worth it.

6. "A shallow person will have only shallow relationships."– Daisaku Ikeda

Links personal growth with relationship depth.

7. "The extent to which two people in a relationship can bring up and resolve issues is a critical marker of the soundness of a relationship." — Henry Cloud

Shows how problem-solving abilities reflect relationship health.

8. "Relationships are like a garden. They need to be nurtured and cared for to grow."

Emphasizes the ongoing care relationships require.

9. "Courage means to keep working on a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods." – Denis Waitley

Describes the bravery needed in maintaining relationships.

10. "Problems should be like speed bumps. You slow down just to get over it, but you don't let it stop you from heading to your destination." – Sonya Parker

Offers a practical perspective on handling relationship challenges.

11. "One of the hardest decisions you'll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder."

Acknowledges the difficulty of relationship crossroads.

12. "Relationship is an art. The dream that two people create is more difficult to master than one." – Miguel Angel Ruiz

Compares relationship building to artistic creation.

13. "Anger repressed can poison a relationship as surely as the cruelest words." – Joyce Brothers

Warns about the dangers of suppressed emotions.

14. "If I love you, I won't give up easily. Leaving is my last option, but if you push me away, I will walk away knowing I gave it my all."

Balances commitment with self-respect.

15. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." — Barbara Johnson

Reminds us to prioritize people over problems.

16. "50% of a great relationship is how you treat someone. The other 50% is having the ability and confidence to communicate the treatment you want in return." – Matthew Hussey

Breaks down relationship success into treatment and communication.

17. "When you find someone you can truly love, you will fight to keep that relationship. No matter what obstacles you both will face, you will never give up on each other."

Describes the determination love inspires.

18. "Trouble is part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you enough chance to love you enough." – Dinah Shore

Shows how sharing struggles allows deeper connection.

19. "To solve the problem you have to recognize your share of responsibility. If you only blame the other person, you will never solve it."

Emphasizes personal accountability in problem-solving.

20. "Explain your anger, don't express it and you will immediately open the door to solutions instead of arguments."

Offers practical advice for handling conflict productively.

1. "Problems in your relationship present you opportunities to strengthen your bond with more love and faith."

Shows how challenges can become chances for deeper connection.

2. "What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity." — Leo Buscaglia

Emphasizes the lasting impact of love shared.

3. "A strong relationship requires choosing to love each other even in those moments when you struggle to like each other."

Highlights how love is a choice, not just a feeling.

4. "Love always doesn't come across as bad, but it always has two sides." ― Auliq Ice

Acknowledges the complexity of love relationships.

5. "There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love." — Bryant H. McGill

Shows the interconnection between love and forgiveness.

6. "Love is a special feeling that inspires people to be the best version of themselves."

Describes how love motivates personal growth.

7. "To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that's everything." — T. Tolis

Captures the reciprocal nature of love.

8. "Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle; love is a war; love is a growing up." — James Baldwin

Portrays love as an ongoing journey of growth.

9. "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." — Maya Angelou

Illustrates love's persistence through obstacles.

10. "Yes, love can be wondrously complicated, it can be confusing, and it can be terrifying. But if it wasn't all those things, then it isn't love." – N.R. Hart

Embraces the complex nature of real love.

11. "They say if the love is true, then it's easy. But that's false. Love is complicated. It's sticky. It's bliss and it's a mix of emotions. It's not easy." – Dominic Riccitello

Challenges the myth of effortless love.

12. "Love should be the lighthouse that guides you through the storm, not the storm itself." — Sophia Roberts

Provides a beautiful metaphor for love's guiding role.

13. "Strong couples give their best selves to one another, not the leftovers after the world is done with them."

Emphasizes prioritizing your relationship.

14. "Real love doesn't meet you at your best. It meets you in your mess." – J.S. Park

Shows how true love accepts imperfection.

15. "Loving someone you don't see every day is not a bad thing. It's just a proof that love is not in sight but in the heart."

Reassures about the strength of love despite distance.

16. "Love is not how you forget but how you forgive. Not how you listen but how you understand. Not what you see but how you feel. And not how you let go but how you hold on."

Defines love through actions rather than emotions.

17. "Love isn't when there are no fights in the relationship. Love is when once the fight ends, love is still there."

Shows how love survives conflict.

18. "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." — Mignon McLaughlin

Describes the renewal of love over time.

19. "Every couple needs to argue now and then, just to prove that the relationship is strong enough to survive." — Melchor Lim

Views arguments as tests of relationship strength.

20. "Love is not about perfection, but about embracing each other's imperfections with patience and grace." - The Papery Onions

Reminds us that perfect love accepts imperfect people.

1. "You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity." — Epicurus

Shows how challenges build relationship resilience.

2. "A man who marries a woman to educate her falls victim to the same fallacy as the woman who marries a man to reform him." – Elbert Hubbard

Warns against trying to change your partner.

3. "I can't promise that in our relationship you won't face any problems, but I surely can promise that you won't face them alone!." – Rose Hathway

Emphasizes partnership through difficulties.

4. "Good relationships are no accident. They are the work of joy."

Highlights how positive effort builds strong bonds.

5. "True love lives in honesty. We work to be honest with ourselves and honest with each other."

Stresses the importance of truthfulness in relationships.

6. "Relationship happiness doesn't come from getting everything you want in a partner. It comes from being grateful for what you have."

Encourages appreciation over perfectionism.

7. "Gratitude is the sunlight that feeds the flower of our love."

Uses a beautiful metaphor for appreciation in relationships.

8. "I'd rather face 1,000 challenges with you than have an easy ride with anyone else."

Shows how shared struggles can strengthen bonds.

9. "We grow stronger with every mountain we climb together."

Emphasizes how overcoming challenges builds relationship strength.

10. "Conquering challenges together makes a relationship unbreakable."

Shows how shared victories strengthen bonds.

11. "Every relationship goes through a struggle, but only strong relationships get through it."

Highlights how difficulties test relationship strength.

12. "We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence." – Cornel West

Lists key ingredients for lasting relationships.

13. "A 'perfect marriage' is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other." – Dave Willis

Redefines perfection in relationships.

14. "Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down." – Socrates

Offers insight into relationship testing.

15. "Both people need to care deeply about the other person, to put the other's needs before their own, and to make a daily commitment to that person to stick it out." – Alessandra Torre

Describes mutual dedication in relationships.

16. "That which is created in a relationship can be fixed in a relationship." - Murray Bowen

Encourages working through problems together.

17. "What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other." - George Eliot

Celebrates the power of unity in relationships.

18. "Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation." - Oscar Wilde

Emphasizes communication's vital role.

19. "There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage." - Martin Luther

Celebrates the beauty of committed relationships.

20. "The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." — Winston Churchill

Encourages positive perspective during challenges.

These quotes remind us that maintaining a positive outlook while acknowledging challenges helps build stronger, more resilient relationships.

When relationships face hard times, remember that every couple encounters difficulties. These 100 quotes remind us that challenges aren't signs of failure - they're opportunities for growth. Whether you're dealing with communication issues, trust concerns, or life's unexpected hurdles, the wisdom shared here shows that with love, commitment, and understanding, relationships can emerge stronger.

Keep these Quotes For Hard Times in Relationships handy for those moments when you need perspective or encouragement. After all, the strongest bonds aren't those that never face storms, but those that learn to weather them together.

Looking for ways to strengthen your relationship during tough times? Share these quotes with your partner and use them as conversation starters to deepen your understanding of each other.