159 ‘I Deserve Better’ Quotes to Recognize Your Worth

These “I deserve better” quotes will help you not settle for less and help you navigate your relationships.

Have you been in a situation or relationship that has left you questioning your value and self-worth?

A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals who believed they were worthy of success were more likely to achieve it.

Don’t underestimate the power of self-worth, read the ‘I Deserve Better’ Quotes to boost your confidence.

This could be nearly any type of situation or relationship, like work and career-related or familial and romantic relationships.

If you have been crying frequently, feeling overwhelmed, beating yourself up, or accepting responsibility for things that are not your fault, it might be time to take a long look at what you have going on.

You deserve better than going through life feeling unworthy and frustrated, but what exactly does “I deserve better” mean?

I deserve better means that your worth is far greater than the behavior or treatment you are receiving and accepting.

It is never your fault for the way someone else chooses to treat you, but what behavior you allow and accept is up to you.

Now, I am not talking about or downplaying the mental effects of an abusive relationship, which can make leaving extremely difficult because of systematic isolation.

This is absolutely not your “fault” and is the result of a predator.

You deserve to be safe and healthy.

If you are in a situation like this please check out some resources in your area to help you.

What I am referring to is respect, support, and knowing your own value.

Keep reading through these I deserve better quotes and rediscover just who you are and what you truly deserve.

Don’t forget to also check out these mind your business quotes that will help you navigate this rude social situation.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

Our inspirational quote category page has even more inspirational and educational quotes.

Short ‘You deserve the best’ quotes

Research conducted by Salary.com revealed that people who negotiated their salary increased their annual pay by an average of $5,000.

If you’re struggling to ask for what you’re worth, read the ‘I Deserve Better’ Quotes for inspiration.

1. “The moment that you start to wonder if you deserve better, you do.” ― Unknown

2. “True, I am in love with suffering, but I do not know if I deserve the honor.” ― Saint Ignatius

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3. “Once you realize you deserve better, letting go will be the best decision ever.” ― Unknown

4. “Deserve your dream.” ― Octavio Paz

5. “We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.” ― Marilyn Monroe

6. “Yes, I deserve a spring–I owe nobody nothing.” ― Virginia Woolf

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7. “What a person desires and what they deserve are often not identical.”― C.A.A. Savastano

8. “Sometimes, you have to forget what you feel to remember what you deserve.” ― Unknown

9. “I guess the moment when everything changed, was when I realized I deserved so much better.” ― Unknown

10. “People don’t always get what they deserve in this world.” ― Lemony Snicket, The Blank Book

‘I deserve better’ quotes about not settling for less than you deserve

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that self-compassion was positively related to decision-making ability.

To make better decisions and avoid settling for less, read the ‘I Deserve Better’ Quotes to remind yourself of your worth.

11. “Never settle for anything less than what you deserve, it’s not pride, its self-respect.” ― Chanakya

12. “Make the most of what you have and keep your standards high. Never settle for anything less than you deserve or are capable of achieving.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

You will also enjoy our article on getting over someone quotes.

13. “The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.” ― Maureen Dowd

You will also enjoy our article on im sorry quotes.

14. “Know who you are. Know what you want. Know what you deserve. And don’t settle for less.” ― Tony Gaskins

You will also enjoy our article on blessed quotes.

15. “Don’t ever settle for less than you deserve, because once you start to settle you always will.” ― Unknown

16. “Don’t settle for less know your value and always tell yourself you deserve better.” ― Pertrice St Pierre

17. “You deserve peace, love, happiness and all that your heart desires. Don’t let anyone control your life and take away those things.” ― Sonya Parker

18. “There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ― Nelson Mandela

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19. “Never settle for less than your dreams, somewhere, sometime, someday, somehow, you’ll find them.” ― Danielle Steel

20. “Never settle for less than you desire or deserve because when you except crumbs people will assume that you are happy with scraps.” ― Stacye Branche

‘I deserve better’ quotes about the fight for equality and justice

21. “The power lunch is no longer just for men. We all deserve a seat at the table.” ― Whitney Wolfe Herd

22. “Whether it’s salary or a promotion or a job, I think it’s important for women to ask for what they think they deserve.” ― Susan Wojcicki

23. “All first responders do noble work, and all of them deserve our respect and our appreciation.” ― William Barr

24. “All human beings deserve equal treatment, no matter their gender identity or sexuality.” ― Andreja Pejic

25. “Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they are born.” ― Melinda Gates

26. “Having to fight for the thing you want doesn’t mean you deserve it any less.” ― Anna Kendrick

27. “Do not expect to get your rights in the corrupted country as you deserve.” ― Kamaran Ihsan Salih

28. “Justice, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Some see an innocent victim. Others will see evil incarnate getting exactly what’s deserved.” ― Emily Thorne

29. “Somewhere in this small world, you can find a place where everyone appreciates you more than you think you deserve.” ― M.F. Moonzajer, LOVE, HATRED AND MADNESS

30. “If you are a woman, reading my tale, learn to fight for your rights and the respect you deserve as a human being. But, if you are a man, reading my tale, learn to respect women and, likewise, advocate for them.” ― Yanan Melo, Aggressing the Predatory Lions

‘I deserve better’ quotes about respect, love, and relationships

31. “If you can’t Respect her, you don’t Deserve Her!” ― Udayveer Singh

32. “Respect yourself enough to know you deserve the very best.” ― Unknown

33. “Even if you have a million flaws you still deserve love and respect.” ― Sonya Parker

34. “When you refuse to settle for less than the best, the best tends to track you down.” ― Mandy Hale

35. “I’m not single, I’m not taken, I’m simply on reserve for the one who deserves my heart.” ― Mitch Cuento

36. “You don’t deserve my image in your head. You don’t deserve my memories in your chest.”― Jamie Weise

37. “Sometimes it takes a heartbreak to shake us awake and help us see we are worth so much more than we’re settling for.” ― Unknown

38. “Don’t settle, even if you have to remain alone for a lifetime. You deserve someone who will appreciate you for both for your beauty and your bruises.” ― A.R. Lucas

39. “Everyone of us deserves to be with someone who makes us happy somebody who won’t complicate our life, somebody who knows our value, someone who won’t hurt us.” ― Unknown

40. “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” ― Buddha

‘I don’t deserve this’ and actually deserve better quotes

41. “Someday, I will let you go and it wouldn’t ache, someday I will realize, I deserve more.”― Nitya Prakash

42. “We cannot achieve more in life than what we believe in our heart of hearts we deserve to have.” ― James R. Ball

43. “You were never meant to fight for the love you deserve. It should have come your way effortlessly…” ― Samiha Totanji

44. “We should not give away a moment to anyone who does not deserve it.”― Deb Caletti, The Secret Life of Prince Charming

45. “Sometimes life doesn’t give you something you want, not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve more.” ― Unknown

46. “Relationships: If you put up with it, you’re going to end up with it.Set the standard you want and don’t settle for less.” ― Steve Maraboli

47. “I think I know that I deserve better. And so I try for better. I’m never so put off that I would ever walk out of a place not having tried the best I could.” ― Maya Angelou

48. “I don’t appreciate the disrespect, because I’ve been playing hurt for a guy who won’t respect you. I don’t deserve it … It’s time for me to move on.” ― Melvin Mora

49. “To be successful, forget what you feel and remember what you deserve. Your courage, dedication and hard work make you deserve to take you on a new high and reaching your goal.” ― D Ranil Kr Sinha

50. “I will not try to convince you to love me, to respect me, to commit to me. I deserve better than that; I AM BETTER THAN THAT…Goodbye.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

‘I deserve better’ quotes for when you have had enough

51. “Fight for the things you deserve.” ― Anuj Jasani

52. “Deserve what you love; love what you deserve.” ― Shweta Tale

53. “Having patience always gives you what you deserve.” ― Fatma Alfalasi

54. “Some people don’t deserve even your thinking for a moment.” ― Arbab J. Edhi

55. “The people who have you apologizing for your love are the ones who don’t deserve it.” ― Nitya Prakash

56. “I’m guilty of giving people more chances than they deserve but when I’m done, I’m done.” ― Turcois Ominek

57. “Once you have decided to achieve what you deserve, you deserve what you have decided to achieve.” ― Anuj Jasani

58. “Do not be disappointed if no one appreciates your true feelings, because they do not deserve them.” ― M.F. Moonzajer

59. “Don’t appreciate me, I’m not up to it. Don’t criticize me, I don’t deserve it. Just be my friend and forgive me, because I am craving for it.” ― Debasish Mridha

60. “Don’t ever say that, Fennrys,” she said. “I don’t ever want to hear you say that you don’t deserve or you aren’t worthy. You do. You are.” ― Lesley Livingston, Starling

I deserve better relationships quotes 

61. “Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” ― Oscar Wilde

62. “I want it to be better than okay. You deserve better than okay.” ― Tammara Webber

63. “If you really believe that you deserve better, work on you, not them.” ― Bobby Williams

64. “The moment you settle for less than you deserve is the moment you get less than you deserve.” ― Nishan Panwar

65. “Don’t stay stuck on the people who’ve hurt you. Move on and let your future give you the better that you deserve.” ― Trent Shelton

66. “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.” ― Robert Tew

67. “We only get what we believe that we deserve. Raise the bar, raise your standards and you will receive a better outcome.” ― Joel Brown

68. “There are better people in the world, do not let the worst do the worst to you, you deserve the best in life.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson

69. “Stop blaming everybody and everything for what’s going on. If you really believe that you deserve better, then you would have it.” ― Bobby Williams

70. “No matter how qualified or deserving we are, we will never reach a better life until we can imagine it for ourselves and allow ourselves to have it.” ― Richard Bach

I deserve better quotes to empower you

71. “You deserve love and you’ll get it.” ― Amy Poehler

72. “You have value and you deserve better.” ― Ken Poirot

73. “You don’t deserve to understand the truth, if all that you want is just the normal life.” ― Toba Beta

74. “The people who have you apologising for your love are the ones who don’t deserve it.” ― Nitya Prakash

75. “It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” ― Mark Twain

76. “When you earn something, you never have to worry about justifying that you truly deserve it.” ― Ronda Rousey

77. “If you’re asking too much you know you deserve too much so never trade yourself for less.” ― Anuj Jasani

78. “When you earn something, you never have to worry about justifying that you truly deserve it.” ― Ronda Rousey

79. “The moment you choose to settle for less, is the moment you’re choosing to hand over your opportunity of what you really deserve to someone else.” ― London Mond

80. “You deserve to be happy, not in the arms of someone who keeps you waiting but of someone who wants you now, love you forever & never leaves.” ― Chelle Mish

I deserve better quotes to keep in mind

81. “Don’t hate your enemies, they don’t even deserve it.” ― M.F. Moonzajer

82. “I like helping people. Especially people who deserve it.” ― Paula Stokes

83. “Never allow impatience to rob you of what you truly deserve.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

84. “The fact that you have failed to get the lesser proves conclusively that you deserve the greater.” ― Christian D. Larson

85. “If there ever comes a day when anyone gets what they deserve…then I would still get you, and you would still get me” ― A.K. Larkwood

86. “He was even. He didn’t give people anything if they didn’t deserve it. But he was considered odd..!” ― Mahendar Singh Jakhar

87. “Not every day you get to be on the other side of the table. Maybe this is how it feels to love someone who doesn’t deserve your love.” ― Sarvesh Jain

88. “We have a saying in my country that a beautiful woman deserves love.” (…) “Ugly women do not?” asked the queen as if genuinely curious.” ― Megan Whalen Turner

89. “Never leave the egg if you are not laid. Don’t leave the laid eggs there not hatched. You deserve the best; you were created to use every gift in you!” ― Israelmore Ayivor

90. “That’s the thing about success and happiness. Every time I fall in love I become absolutely, pathologically obsessed. The moment that you have what you want, and you’re not totally ready for it, you become obsessed with the idea that you don’t deserve it.” ― Sara Quin

I deserve better quotes to help you know your worth

91. “You have the people you deserve in your life.” ― Nitya Prakash

92. “You don’t get what you want; you get what you deserve.” ― Frank Sonnenberg

93. “Love her in spite of whether or not you think you deserve her.” ― Hollow Ryan

94. “Your dad gives what you desire, but destiny gives what you deserve.” ― Amit Kalantri

95. “You deserve a circle of inclusion and influence, but it’s up to you to create it.” ― Richie Norton

96. “Sometimes the best and worst thing you can get is exactly what you deserve.” ― Nitya Prakash

97. “Sometimes all you need is that one person who unlike others reminds you what you deserve.” ― Shweta Tale

98. “Love yourself just the way you are. You are good enough. You are worthy. You deserve your own love.” ― Akiroq Brost

99. “Tearing up between what you deserve and what you settle for is a perpetual cause of unsettling pain.” ― Nitya Prakash

100. “There are people who do not deserve your kindness. Be kind to them anyway. Kindness is a great weapon for the wise.” ― Gift Gugu Mona

I deserve better quotes that will make your day

101. “We are what we believe we are.” ― C.S. Lewis

102. “Refuse to accept another’s estimation of yourself.” ― Alison Stormwolf

103. “Know your worth, hold your own power, be you.” ― Morgan Harper Nichols

104. “The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” ― Sonya Friedman

105. “They do not deserve you, if they desert you in times of distress.”― Gift Gugu Mona

106. “Don’t settle for what life gives you; make life better and build something.” ― Ashton Kutcher

107. “Find your own happy street, don’t settle for someone else’s address.” ― Christine Szymansk

108. “Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you’re worthy of the trip.” ― Glenn Beck

109. “Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.” ― Mandy Hale

110. “What you believe you deserve is what you get in life. Change your beliefs and your life transforms.” ― Jaclyn Nicole Johnston

I deserve better quotes to maintain your standards

111. “The one I wanted wasn’t the one who deserved me.” ― R.H. Sin

112. “And even more grateful to hear someone say it deserves better.” ― Halldór Laxness

113. “Ash, I want you. Bad, very very bad. But you deserve better than this.” ― Abbi Glines

114. “I give myself permission to be all that I can be, and I deserve the very best in life.” ― Louise Hay

115. “People get the government their behavior deserves. People deserve better than that.” ― Richard Stallman

116. “You deserve so much better than me, but that doesn’t change the fact that I still want to be with you.” ― Janna Sproul

117. “You know I was just taking a dump one day, and then as I sat there I realized, I really do deserve better.” ― Zach Braff

118. “I could have played another year, but I would have been playing for the money, and baseball deserves better than that.” ― George Brett

119. “We are the world. We are the people and we deserve better not because we’re worth it but because no worth can be put on the incalculable, on the infinite, on life.” ― Nick Mancuso

120. “If you raise the bar and offer your best to others then you deserve the same or better. Sometimes you have to divorce people who add no value to your life because they have nothing to offer but drama.” ― Bindu

I Deserve Better Quotes To Know What You Truly Want

121. “You are worthy of good things, and you are a deserving and beautiful person.” — Bryant McGill

122. “He thoroughly deserved his success because he is the hardest trained athlete in the world.” — John Landy

123. “The vision is only limited until you decide what you deserve & staple it to your eyeballs.” — Curtis Tyrone Jones

124. “Go on deserving applause, and you will be sure to meet with it, and the way to deserve it is to be good, and to be industrious.” — Citizen Jefferson

125. “But if you can’t take me at my worst, You don’t deserve me at my best.” — Machine Gun Kelly

126. “The wishes of an honest man do not stretch beyond what he undoubtedly deserves.” — Eraldo Banovac

127. “Do not always look for gratitude, for, sometimes when you are most deserving, you will get the least.” — Ida Scudder

128. “Rewards are meaningless if they’re not deserved.” — Frank Sonnenberg

129. “You are sweet and smart and definitely not extremely strange. You are lovable and deserving of love–everybody is.” — Kimberly King Parsons

130. “He who hides himself amongst the shadows deserves to live inside the dark shadows! Meet with the light to deserve the light!” — Mehmet Murat Ildan

I Deserve Better Quotes to Elevate Your Self Worth

131. “Once you discover your happy place where you can be you, you will never settle for just any old space ever again.” ― Christine E. Szymanski

132. “Never settle for that which is easy and comfortable or the necessity of seeking that which is difficult and uncomfortable.” ― Frederick Lenz

133. “There’s a huge difference between being in love and being in love with the thought of love. Recognize the difference. Never settle.” ― Behdad Sami

134. “You deserve to be someone’s first choice. You deserve to be cherished and not taken for granted. You deserve to be chosen and not settled for.” ― Mandy Hale

135. “There is always someone out there who will put you first. Don’t settle for someone who will put you next.” ― Tony Payne

136. “Don’t settle for relationships that won’t let you be yourself.” ― Oprah Winfrey

137. “To my fellow women, please don’t settle. Not in a job you hate, not in a town where you don’t feel at home, not with friendships that aren’t real and especially, especially not with love.” ― Marisa Donnelly

138. “We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realize this, we may never be prepared to settle for anything less.” ― Kurt Hahn

139. “When you accept the fact that your true identity includes being an overcomer, you will never settle for less than a miracle.” ― Craig Groeschel

140. “Once you realize how good you really are, you never settle for playing less than your best.” ― Reggie Jackson

I Deserve Better Quotes to Demand More from Life

141. “I am not naive enough to settle for anything less than a reasonable valuation of my worth.” ― Roy Keane

142. “Never settle. You are priceless and worth more than you could ever know.” ― Zane Fab

143. “I’ve also seen what a never-settling mindset can produce—greatness.” ― Sam Collier

144. “Never settle for second when first is available.” ― Lou Holtz

145. “Don’t settle for less just because it’s available.” ― Dionne Neo Nkosazana Sithole

146. “Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that’s in us.” ― Angela Bassett

147. “Every dream is worth following in life. Never settle for the minimum when you can have so much more.” ― Taneisha LaGrant

148. “Don’t settle for good when you were destined to be great.” ― Charles F. Glassman

149. “Never settle for a life you don’t want when God is trying to give you a better life.” ― Shannon L. Alder

150. “Our bodies, apart from their brilliant role as drawing exercises, are the temples of our being. Like the bodies of all fauna, they deserve both our study and our appreciation.” ― Robert Genn

151. “I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.” ― Chi Chi Rodriguez

152. “More than anything, I think as our country matures, we recognize that women deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.” ― Barbara Boxer

153. “I deserve to have boundaries, and my boundaries are respected. I love and honor myself. I am safe. All is well.” ― Louise Hay

154. I will do everything I can to bring the number one to Ferrari. The whole team and all the fans deserve it.” ― Michael Schumacher

155. “All you have to do is DECIDE what you want. BELIEVE you DESERVE IT, and PRACTICE the success PRINCIPLES.” ― Jack Canfield

156. “True prosperity is an incredible gift. It’s a gift YOU deserve. And no matter what anyone says, it’s a gift that IS available to you – right now.” ― Joe Vitale

157. “Here’s what I’ve learned – people will hurt you, but you don’t have to respond: Not every mean comment or cruel act deserves to be noticed.” ― John J. Geddes

158. “Make a strong and permanent commitment to invest your talents only in pursuits that deserve your best efforts.” ― Nido R Qubein

159. “What have I done, dear God, to deserve this perpetual feeling that I’m almost ready to begin something really new?” ― Theodore Roethke

What did you learn from these I deserve better quotes?

Just how do you come to the realization that you do, in fact, deserve better than you are getting?

Well, it may start out with the tears and feelings I mentioned earlier, but there are also a few other signs.

Do you feel like you are being taken for granted?

Are your efforts and gestures never acknowledged or reciprocated?

Do you feel like second rate?

These are indicators that you deserve a partner or a work role where you are appreciated, at the bare minimum!

Is there a “standard” to what people deserve, and how is this decided?

Some people expect to be treated like royalty in a relationship, and others just want decent behavior.

There is a whole range of treatment in between “queen” and “basic human” being status.

Here are a few things that I think everyone deserves in their lives, and we should all strive to spread these things out into the world.

The first is laughter.

People deserve to experience humor and joy, and laughter really is the best medicine.

Support is also something that everyone should expect and is easy to provide.

At the end of the day, be in situations that make you feel happy, safe, and cherished.

Do you need a foot rub every day or is it enough for you to have someone give you a hug and acknowledge your difficult day?

That is up to you, but whatever it is that you believe you deserve, go and get it with intention!

What’s your biggest takeaway from these I deserve better quotes and sayings?

Do you have any other favorite quotes to add?

Let us know in the comment section below.