Burning Bridges Quotes About Moving Forward

You might have been told to be careful not to burn your bridges before, but some of these burning bridges quotes point out why sometimes you have to do just that.

So, is burning bridges a good or a bad thing?

First off, let’s look at this from the literal sense of the metaphor. There are two pieces of land separated by an impassable cavern. The idea behind this saying is that if you burn the bridge down, there is no going back to the other side.

Now, the idea behind the metaphor is that you shouldn’t do things that make it completely impossible for you to return to another person or situation.

For instance, if you are moving and have to quit a job, you should give a two-week notice. Someday in your life, you might end up back in your original town, and want/need that job back.

Basically, burning bridges is all about your inability to go back the way you came, which might be safe and comfortable. However, this is exactly why some people think burning bridges is not a good thing but a necessary thing.

Don’t forget to also check out these bridge quotes to encourage you to make connections.

Burning bridges quotes about moving on

1. “Burn the bridges that lead back to your old way of living.” — Unknown

2. “I demolish my bridges behind me―then there is no choice but to move forward.” — Fridtjof Nansen

3. “It makes no difference if I burn my bridges behind me―I never retreat.” — Fiorello LaGuardia

4. “Sometimes you need to burn bridges to stop yourself from crossing them again.” — Unknown

5. “I will burn all bridges behind me and stake my entire future on my ability to get what I want.” — Cliff Townsend

6. “I won’t just burn bridges anymore, I’ll destroy portals between worlds. You are not allowed near me if all you carry is toxicity.” — Erin Van Vuren

7. “If the bridge to your past is burned behind you, then you have no choice but to travel the path into a successful future.” — John Di Lemme

8. “If you believe in destiny then you must believe that the bridge was burned so you can find a new way to go to find the destiny that you were meant to follow.” — Terry Perkins

9. “With every bridge that burns a new path is opened for the way your destiny is to be shaped.” — Terry Perkins

10. “Any bridge to the past that refuses to burn just gives the enemy an invitation and an entry point back into your life.” — Femi Olorunnisola

Burning bridges quotes about why we shouldn’t

11. “Careful not to burn bridges, you just might need to cross back.” — Unknown

12. “Never burn a bridge. Just shut it down for renovations for a while.” — Unknown

13. “Never burn bridges. If it’s a faulty bridge then close it off and let it fall on its own.” — Gregor Collins

14. “I don’t burn bridges. I just fail to maintain them and let them structurally degrade over time.” — Unknown

15. “Don’t burn bridges. Keep your integrity. If you don’t get along, just keep your distance.” — Unknown

16. “I never wanted to set the world on fire. So I never had to burn any bridges behind me.” — Dinah Shore

17. “Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

18. “You never know when a relationship will come in handy, so be cautious about burning bridges.” — John Michael Morgan

19. “I wish someone had told me about ‘burning bridges.’ I have burned loads of bridges in my life and I just had to move forward.” — Natalie Bandlow

20. “Burning a bridge, for example, does not just impact the situation at hand. It can Impact opportunities you may never be aware of.” — Valorie Burton

Burning bridges quotes from song lyrics

21. “Why’d we want to burn those bridges? Why’d we want to light such a flame?” — Daniel Smith Chauncey

22. “And we’re burning all the bridges now, watching it go up in flames, and then we’d build it up again.” — Casey Michael Laforet

23. “And we’re burning all the bridges now, cause it was sink or swim and I went down, down, down.” — Casey Michael Laforet

24. “These bridges burning so fast, we can’t just stomp ’em out as if you know what I’m talking about.” — Christopher Bridges (Ludacris)

25. “I can feel a strong desire, a distant fire burning through the past.Deep inside my heart is yearning, a bridge is burning.” — Remy David Shand

26. “Oh, burning bridges behind me. You can follow me down but it’s plain to see I’m a victim of the burn and it’s third degree.” — Remy David Shand

27. “Oh, setting bridges on fire. You can call out my name but I won’t return, I’m a fugitive of love and this heart’s been burned.” — Remy David Shand

28. “Burning bridges behind me, it’s too late to turn back now. Burning bridges behind me, all I want is to forget you somehow.” — Remy David Shand

29. “Ain’t no way to stay warm at the fire of burning bridges, burning bridges. I’ve made some adjustments, worked out some problems.” — Daniel Smith Chauncey

30. “When all your love is lost, and burning bridges can’t be crossed, Lord won’t you let me know or give me one more reason to go.” — Christopher Bridges (Ludacris)

Short burning bridges quotes

31. “Yes, burn your bridges.” — Bette Davis

32. “Burning bridges in order to escape.” — James Pesutic

33. “Never burn your bridges till you come to them.” — Clayton Rawson

34. “Commitment means burning all bridges behind you.” — Billy Graham

35. “You know, the thing about burned bridges is, they can be rebuilt.” — Tim Kring

36. “When one burns one’s bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.” — Dylan Thomas

37. “Many of us are guilty of burning our bridges before we cross them.” — John H. Hayes

38. “I’ve been burning bridges all day, I think I’ll just knock this one down.” — Chris Soares

39. “You don’t have to worry about burning bridges, if you’re building your own.” — Kerry E Wagner

40. “The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.” — David Russell

Burning bridges quotes about light from the fire and reasons to burn

41. “Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.” — Don Henley

42. “May the bridges I burn today light the way for a better tomorrow.” — Unknown

43. “The only way you can write is by the light of the bridges burning behind you.” — Richard Peck

44. “Bridges are meant for burning, when the people and memories they join aren’t the same.” — Jim Croce

45. “Sometimes, you have to burn a few bridges to keep the crazies from following you.” — Unknown

46. “I like to burn my bridges while I’m standing on them so people know I’m serious about my crazy.” — Unknown

47. “Stop telling me not to burn bridges. Some bridges are meant to be burned; some roads are never meant to be traveled again.” — Steve Maraboli

48. “My land is bare of chattering folk; the clouds are low along the ridges and sweet’s the air with curly smoke from all my burning bridges.” — Dorothy Parker

49. “Sometimes the bridges you burn light the way out of your darkness, but the memory of the blaze will be burned into your heart and mind forever.” — Shannon L. Alder

50. “We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.” — Tom Stoppard

What did you learn from these burning bridges quotes?

Looking back at the land separated by bridges it is easy to see how burning bridges could be good. There are things that happen you might want to leave in the past and never return to. Horrible things that make it a no-brainer to burn that bridge to the ground and never walk back.

However, there are also times when the things behind us are pleasant enough. Safe and secure—not something you feel the need to run from. This sense of safety can keep you from growing and exploring new things that could be infinitely better for you.

Maybe you crossed from your side of the bridge and were just brave enough to step on the other side, but not explore. If the bridge is there, you could decide to go back. But if it were to collapse behind you, then you would have no choice but to go forward.

What awaits you in the unknown land? That is for you to discover! Maybe, you don’t need to burn the bridge to have the courage to venture forth into the unknown. However, it is easy to see how sometimes not having the option to go back the way you came could be a really good thing.

What’s your biggest takeaway from these burning bridges quotes and sayings? Do you regret burning a bridge, or was it the best thing that ever happened to you? Let us know in the comment section below.