50 Polyamory Quotes About Relationships That Involve More Than Two People

Below you will find polyamory quotes about people participating in relationships with more than one other person.

Polyamory is when there is a romantic or sexual relationship involving more than one other partner at a time, with everyone consenting and knowledgeable about the situation.

People that participate in polyamory reject the idea that monogamous relationships, or committed relationships with one other person, are needed to build deep, loving, long-term relationships.

Some people that participate in polyamory restrict their sexual activity to a group of people in a closed relationship only within the group, called polyfidelity.

Polyamory is one practice that falls under “consensual non-monogamy.”

All relationships have challenges, but intimate relationships with multiple partners introduce additional challenges that can negatively impact your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Common problems that result from these types of relationships include:

• Higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and diseases
• Anxiety and depression
• Communication struggles
• Jealousy
• Lack of close intimacy and trust
• Fear of being replaced

Here are some polyamory quotes sharing the realities of the struggles in these relationships.

Polyamory Quotes About the Challenges

The following quotes share some of the main challenges people face when choosing this type of relationship.

1. “Managing jealousy is a recurring theme on polyamorous support sites.” —Sayde Scarlett

2. “Inherent in the whole polygamous movement is a deep and abiding misogyny and denigration of women.” — Gene Robinson

3. “And even though polygamous people feel no jealousy at the beginning of their new relationship, with time, that changes.” —Ariel Quinn

4. “Although the law does acknowledge the possibility of polygamy in ancient Israel, one should not correlate possibility with permissibility.” — Lucy Carter

5. “Couples in a polyamorous relationship don’t fully anticipate the emotional response they might have to their partner being with another person.” — David Helfand

6. “Those that believe in polyamory refer to it as the new frontier for love, which I find completely irritating as a marriage expert as I see how this is destructive to marriages.” — Dr. Karen Ruskin

7. “The truth is that every partner that is added to a relationship adds more potential for drama, and in the vast majority of cases, that drama is just not worth it in the long run.” — Ossiana Tepfenhart

8. “Monogamous relationships can offer a deep sense of emotional connection and fulfillment, as partners are able to invest their time, energy, and resources fully into one another.” — Dr. Terri Orbuch

9. “Traditional marriage offers the opportunity to build a legacy together, through the creation and nurturing of a family that will endure beyond the lifetime of the individuals involved.” — Dr. David Hawkins

10. “To think that poly relationships don’t suffer from jealousy is a myth. Issues with time management, jealousy that stems from insecurity and unhealthy comparisons are likely to arise in any dynamic.” — Shivanya Yogmayaa

You will also enjoy our article on pansexual quotes. 

Polyamory Quotes About The Difficulties of Polyamory Relationships

Here are some more insights often overlooked by those interested in polyamory.

11. “It is my clinical opinion that polyamory is simply one more technique of conflict avoidance and problem escapism to the external.” — Dr. Karen Ruskin

12. “Monogamy allows individuals to focus their emotional and physical energy on one person, which can lead to a deeper level of connection and intimacy.” — Dr. Karen Blair

13. “Polyamory can be challenging because it requires confronting jealousy and insecurity, and working through those feelings with all partners involved.” — Dedeker Winston

14. “Polyamory can be difficult to navigate because it requires managing the emotions and needs of multiple partners, which can be overwhelming at times.” — Eve Rickert

15. “When you always have another option, you stop putting in the amount of effort you should put into a relationship. It tends to bring out the worst in you.” — Ossiana Tepfenhart

16. “Whether you like to admit it or not, you can’t divide your heart into equal parts. You can’t give all of your partners the same amount of emotions.” — Ariel Quinn

17. “The first time your spouse goes on a date with another person, or you hear them in the bedroom with someone else, it can create an intense emotion that you might not know how to process or have been prepared for.” — David Helfand

18. “Until now, you had two people trying to reach a compromise. Now, you have three or more adults trying to do the same thing. How does this not make things even more complicated?” — Ariel Quinn

19. “People who practice polyamory face unique health issues. These include a potentially higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from having multiple sexual partners, and anxiety or depression stemming from managing multiple relationships.” — Jenna Fletcher

20. “The vast majority of people who attempt consensual non-monogamy, however, must at some people deal with jealousy, insecurity, fear, and a host of other potentially challenging emotions.” — Elisabeth A. Sheff, Ph.D.

Why Avoid Polyamory Relationship Quotes

These quotes show reasons for avoiding these types of relationships.

21. “Monogamous relationships can offer a strong foundation for building a family, as both partners are fully committed to each other and their shared goals.” — Dr. Helen Fisher

22. “Monogamy can allow for a deeper level of sexual intimacy and exploration, as partners are able to explore their desires and preferences with one another over time.” — Dr. Justin Lehmiller

23. “Monogamous relationships can provide a sense of security, stability, and emotional intimacy that can be difficult to replicate in a polyamorous dynamic.” — Dr. Samantha Joel

24. “Monogamy can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity that can be difficult to achieve in a polyamorous dynamic, where partners may come and go or have shifting levels of involvement.” — Dr. Stan Tatkin

25. “In traditional marriage, there is an opportunity for complementary roles and strengths to be celebrated and utilized, creating a sense of balance and harmony in the relationship.” — Dr. Gary Chapman

26. “On the other hand, it’s impossible to form an emotional connection with everyone who comes along. Won’t all of those meaningless physical encounters leave you feeling empty and drained?” — Arial Quinn

27. “Yes, there is a bigger chance of getting an STI. It’s actually pretty logical – you sleep with a lot of people, all of those people sleep with other people, and your partner does the same.” — Ariel Quinn

28. “And if marriage has many pains, polygamous marriage multiplies those pains to an unforeseeable extent with the commotion generating from squabbling wives and contending offspring.” — Joseph Heller

29. “Polyamory seems to attract people who are trying to avoid the commitment, intimacy, and the emotional intensity of being involved with just one person. These are the characteristics of a person who would be a poor partner in any type of relationship.” — Sayde Scarlett

30. “The truth is that in a poly relationship, your partner(s) ’s attention will be divided among multiple people at all times, and that means you might end up being the odd man or woman out on occasion. Trust me when I say that being the oddball in your own relationship hurts more than a breakup itself.” — Ossiana Tepfenhart

Polyamory Quotes from Brigham Young

These quotes from the Mormon leader of the past showed his thoughts on polygamy. However, the church has since prohibited the practice.

31. “There is no law, national or divine, that forbids [plural marriage]; there is no law that says it is right.” — Brigham Young

32. “The only men who become gods, even the sons of god, are those who enter into polygamy.” — Brigham Young

33. “Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of heaven among men.” — Brigham Young

34. “We are a polygamous people and always have been, and it is the only way a kingdom can be governed.” — Brigham Young

35. “Some may say that polygamy is a selfish doctrine, but it is not. Any system that is not selfish must have at its base the principle of plural marriage, or it will not succeed.” — Brigham Young

36. “Do you think that I am an old man? I could prove to this congregation that I am young; for I could find more girls who would choose me for a husband than can carry any of the young men.” — Brigham Young

37. “I am a firm believer in marriage. I believe God intended it for our happiness and that it is a necessary institution. I also believe that the plurality of wives is a divine institution, and I defend it.” — Brigham Young

38. “Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy? If we are not admitted until then, we shall never be admitted.” — Brigham Young

39. “If I had forty wives in the United States, they did not know it and could not substantiate it, neither did I ask any lawyer, judge, or magistrate for them. I live above the law, and so do this people.” — Brigham Young

40. “A few years ago, one of my wives, when talking about wives leaving their husbands, said, ‘I wish my husband’s wives would leave him, every soul of them except myself.’ That is the way all feel, more or less, at times, both old and young.” — Brigham Young

More Marriage, Relationship, and Polyamory Quotes

Here are some additional quotes on the benefits of traditional relationships and marriage over polyamory.

41. “Traditional marriage offers a sense of security and commitment, as partners vow to be faithful and support each other through life’s challenges.” — Dr. Laura Berman

42. “In a relationship between two people, there is an opportunity to create a shared narrative and vision for the future, as partners work together to build a life that is fulfilling and meaningful.” — Dr. Terri Orbuch

43. “Traditional marriage provides a framework for building a life together, with shared goals and responsibilities that can deepen the bond between partners.” — Dr. John Townsend

44. “In a relationship between two people, there is a sense of exclusivity and commitment that can deepen the bond and create a strong foundation for a life together.” — Dr. Sue Varma

45. “Monogamy can foster a deep level of trust and intimacy, as partners are able to build a shared history and work through challenges together over time.” — Dr. John Gottman

46. “A relationship between two people offers the opportunity for deep mutual understanding and empathy, as partners are able to truly know and appreciate each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.” — Dr. Alexandra Solomon

47. “Those that believe in polyamory suggest the importance of helping one’s children to see this as normal. I am here to say; do we really need a long-term study to know that this is trouble waiting to happen?” — Dr. Karen Ruskin

48. “When you’re in love with someone, you usually will want them all to yourself, and even if you aren’t the jealous type, it’s often emotionally hard to know that you aren’t the only one they care about.” — Ossiana Tepfenhart

49. “A relationship between two people can provide a sense of security and stability, as partners can rely on each other for support and comfort through life’s challenges.” — Dr. Samantha Rodman

50. “Maybe the media will for once do their job right and inform the public about these abusive communities…. We all need to help by finding a legal means to change this abusive society, nestled among the dusty red sand hills of the Vermillion Cliffs in southwestern Utah and the Arizona Strip.” — Jenny Jessop Larson

Difficulties Arising From Polyamory

As with any relationship, there can be difficulty in agreeing to a balance of power or responsibilities between two people, which gets more complicated as you add more partners.

Custody of children is another area that can be a cause of concern as there could be multiple men who could be the father.

Other issues in polyamory relationships include jealousy, loyalty, time management, and disappointment, to name a few.

Please share these polyamory quotes to share the dangers and obstacles of these relationships.