60 Red Flag Quotes to Keep You Alarmed

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Updated November 14, 2023

Finding red flag quotes can be a difficult task for some.

If you are one of them, we have something to share with you.

Here, we have curated a list of the best red flag quotes to help you find your favorite quote.

In addition, we have also discussed the term “Red Flag” and how to deal with a situation that raises a red flag in your life.

What is Meant by the Term “Red Flag?”

The term ‘Red Flag’ usually relates to a signal or warning sign that warns us of potential danger.

There are various reasons why this term serves as a caution against danger.

For instance, it is used in various types of signaling operations such as railroad or naval operations to signal danger ahead.

This term helps to let others know that something wrong can happen and that one should take necessary caution.

Real-Life Examples for Using the Term “Red Flag’’

In our day-to-day life, we use this term to show some kind of concern.

A red flag could be used to indicate dissatisfaction regarding a policy or action.

Here are various examples where we use the term red flag:

This term is also used in the field of medicine to indicate a severe health issue or disorder.
A red flag is also used as a warning sign of a deteriorating financial situation of a person.
In terms of relationships, a red flag is raised when partners or spouses get angry frequently or show violent behavior toward each other.
When it comes to the academic context, a plagiarized paper serves as a red flag for academic dishonesty.
In a legal system, when a witness changes his/her testimony, it’s a red flag regarding the credibility of such a person.

What to do When You Come Across a Red Flag in Your Life

When you come across a red flag at any stage of your life, it is imperative to deal with it wisely.

For this purpose, you need to act promptly and devise an action plan to avert the dangerous or unfavorable situation.

Here are some of the critical steps you can take in such a situation:

Step-1: The first step is to identify the warning associated with the red flag, which helps you understand the gravity of a situation and take necessary actions.

Step-2: After identifying the warning, make sure to understand the context and potential consequences associated with the red flag.

Step-3: If you are facing difficulty dealing with the situation, try to seek advice from a trusted professional counselor.

Step-4: Depending on the circumstance, you should take necessary actions to avoid the dangerous or unpleasant situation ahead.

Top 10 Red Flag Quotes

Following are the top 10 best red flag quotes from our quotes compilation.

1. “When all you know is fight flight red flags or butterflies.” — Cindy Cherie

2. “If you ignore the red flags, embrace the heartache to come.” ― Amanda Mosher

3. “This home had more red flags than a Chinese military parade.” ― Ryan J. Gutierrez

4. “Red flags are moments of hesitation that determine our destination.” ― Mandy Hale

5. “The red flags are usually there; you just have to keep your eyes open.” ― April Mae Monterrosa

6. “When you want to fall in love, you ignore red flags in the optimistic hope.” ― Max Joseph

7. “When I bought my first house, I had all these red flags on my credit report.” ― Ryan Leaf

8. “I wish the pain of betrayal was as easy to ignore as the red flags that forewarned it.” ― Steve Maraboli

9. “You kind of ignore all the signs & red flags because you really want to like the person.” ― Ravyn Lenae

10. “I think people make a big deal that I’m this big character-issue guy & I’ve got red flags.” ― Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Red Flag Quotes with Advice

The following red flag quotes are given to help you recognize, avoid and overcome toxic situations in love, work, and personal growth..

11. “The point is: if an activity or a show or a thing is only (or mostly) adored by men, that’s a red flag.” ― Jill Gutowitz

12. “Don’t beat yourself up because you thought the red flags were a cry for help instead of a warning signal.” ― Christine E. Szymanski

13. “They ignored all of the signs… Pretended not to see the flags… You can break your own heart loving some people.” ― Steve Maraboli

14. “That’s something the IRS always looks for. For example, say you have some money left in your bank account after paying taxes. That’s a red flag.” — Jay Leno

15. “Impairment of fertility in both men and women because of hypothyroidism is firmly entrenched in medical literature…Miscarriage and fertility problems are a red flag for hypothyroidism.” — Mark Starr

16. “Healthy people don’t stay in unhealthy romantic relationships. Healthy people don’t ignore red flags when they’re falling for someone; they acknowledge the flags like there’s no tomorrow.” ― Farah Ayaad

17. “It may be expedient to take stock of all the affecting pieces that might shatter in the wake of an emotional earthquake once red flags come up in a committed relationship and an overarching scene has to be fashioned for a recast life experience.” ― Erik Pevernagie

18. “Avoid confusing compromise with negating yourself. The surrender that often has to occur in a relationship with a narcissist as “compromise” can keep your submissive and fruitless behaviors and expectations alive. The red flags were made apparent within the first three months of the relationship.” ― Ramani Durvasula

19. “Too much twee emotional expression–too many claims like, “Everything is awesome,” or “I just never really feel angry or upset,” or “If you’re just positive, you can turn that frown upside down,”–often mask real pain and hurt. These behaviors are as much red flags as brooding and anger are…Being all light is as dangerous as being all dark, simply because denial of emotion is what feeds the dark.” ― Brené Brown

20. “It’s rare for a toxic person to change their behavior. More often, the only thing that varies is their target and the blame they place. Because some toxic people are difficult to identify, keep in mind that a victim mindset is sometimes a red flag. So, listen when someone talks about their life and circumstances. If the list of people they blame is long… it’s probably only a matter of time before you’re on that list.” ― Steve Maraboli

Powerful Red Flag Quotes

Below are the red flag quotes that discuss personal feelings and actions to do or avoid.

21. “I will not date a woman from China because that is a big red flag.” — Daniel Tosh

22. “So I hope I’ve made clear that imposing agile methods is a very red flag.” — Martin Fowler

23. “I always carried a small American flag red, white and blue with me so people would know I was from America.” — George Foreman

24. “Actually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and up my spine is growing this red, white and blue stripe.” — Walt Disney

25. “We might have been better off if the question of Obama’s patriotism had been raised before he was first elected. Never should we ignore so many red flag warnings again.” — Thomas Sowell

26. “Who has time for toxic relationships? If someone isn’t honoring your feelings, it’s not a real relationship. If you feel drained after spending time with someone, that’s a red flag!” — Doreen Virtue

27. “I try not to think retrospectively. It’s important, as an artist, to look forward, always. I do try to take work that involves some challenge. If you approach a piece of work and you’re going, “Yeah, yeah, I can do that,” then that’s kind of a red flag.” — Cillian Murphy

28. “The flag of our stately battles, not struggles of wrath and greed, Its stripes were a holy lesson, its spangles a deathless creed: ‘T was red with the blood of freemen and white with the fear of the foe; And the stars that fight in their courses ‘gainst tyrants its symbols know.” — Julia Ward Howe

29. “The most frustrating thing is when you read something that has so much potential, but there are other little red flags where you think, I don’t know that I would see eye-to-eye with the people making this film. And that is the worst environment to enter, and absolutely not worth the risk.” — Anna Kendrick

30. “I’m in love with red. I think it’s such a passionate color. Every flag of every country pretty much has red it. It’s power; there’s no fence sitting with red. Either you love it or you don’t. I think it’s blood and strength and life. I do love red. I love all colors. Great shades of blue, you find them in nature. They’re all magic.” — Bryan Batt

Red Flag Quotes that are Insta-Worthy

The following red flag quotes are great to share on your favorite social media platform, like Instagram.

31. “Growth at an exceptional rate is a red flag in banking.” — Unknown

32. “Of course, you didn’t see the red flags. They were used as blindfolds.” — Erin Van Vuren

33. “If you don’t come out with a great presentation, you’re dead. That’s a big red flag.” — Robert Herjavec

34. “If anyone has a new idea in this country, there are twice as many people who keep putting a man with a red flag in front of it.” — Prince Philip

35. “I learned this a long time ago. If you call a guy into your office and shut the door, if there’s media around, it sends up a red flag. I never wanted to embarrass a player.” — Jim Leyland

36. “Using a metaphor in front of a man as unimaginative as Ridcully was like a red flag to a bu… was like putting something very annoying in front of someone who was annoyed by it.” — Terry Pratchett

37. “The first rocket to the Moon carried a red flag. The first photograph of the far side of the Moon was made with a Soviet camera. If a man orbits the earth this year, his name will be Ivan.” — John F. Kennedy

38. “It’s always a huge red flag for me when somebody’s reticent or reluctant or a little slow in providing thoughtful references that are a testament to them as a person and their professional accomplishments.” — Ivanka Trump

39. “London doesn’t love the latent or the lurking, has neither time, nor taste, nor sense for anything less discernible than the red flag in front of the steam-roller. It wants cash over the counter and letters ten feet high.” — Henry James

40. “My goal is for people associate November with COPD awareness month as much as they notice October with breast cancer and pink. That’d be a great thing if it happened. The fact that COPD kills more people than breast cancer and diabetes put together should raise some red flags.” — Danica Patrick

More Red Flag Quotes

These are some more red flags quotes so you can enjoy and share them with your loved ones.

41. “Cinema is universal, beyond flags and borders and passports.” — Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

42. “I fear my enthusiasm flags when real work is demanded of me.” — H. P. Lovecraft

43. “There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum.” — Arthur C. Clarke

44. “If you tell a guy you don’t like being tickled and he tickles you anyway, that’s a red flag.” — Anna Kendrick

45. “There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag.” — Jesse Ventura

46. “We’ll have freedom, love, and health/When the grand red flag is flying, In the Workers’ Commonwealth.” — Joe Hill

47. “I’m excited for the audiences to hear the title track, Cheers to the Fall, plus Red Flags and Rearview.” — Andra Day

48. “If you can’t come clean and tell investors how and why you failed, that raises a red flag. They need to see that you learned from it and came back stronger.” — Daymond John

49. “Swift blazing flag of the regiment, Eagle with the crest of red and gold, These men were born to drill and die. Point for them the virtue of slaughter, Make plain to them the excellence of killing. And a field where a thousand corpses lie.” — Stephen Crane

50. “If you have children, you cannot feed them forever with flags for breakfast and cartridges for lunch. You need something more substantial. Unless you educate your children and spend less money on conflicts unless you develop your science, technology, and industry, you don’t have a future.” — Shimon Peres

51. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Don’t wait for the red flags to multiply.” ― Maya Angelou

52. “If you find yourself constantly making excuses for someone, it’s time to acknowledge the red flags waving in your face.” ― Sonya Parker

53. “A red flag is not just a signal to proceed with caution; it’s a bold announcement that something needs your attention and evaluation.” ― Shannon L. Alder

54. “Trust your instincts. If something feels off, don’t ignore the red flags; they are the universe’s way of guiding you to safety.” ― Oprah Winfrey

55. “Red flags are the universe’s way of saying, ‘Pause, reflect, and reassess.’ Listen to the warnings, for they lead to a path of self-preservation.” ― Dee Waldeck

56. “Recognizing red flags isn’t about being negative; it’s about being wise and protecting your heart from unnecessary pain.” ― Charles J. Orlando

57. The red flags in a relationship are not meant to be swept under the rug but rather to serve as a roadmap for self-discovery and growth.” ― Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

58. “A red flag is like a neon sign, alerting you to the potential hazards ahead. Pay attention and choose a safer path.” ― Karen Salmansohn

59. “Ignoring red flags is like driving through a storm with your eyes closed. It’s a recipe for disaster. Open your eyes and navigate wisely.” ― Carlos Wallace

60. “Red flags are not obstacles to love; they are the signposts that guide you away from heartbreak and towards a healthier, happier future.” ― Kris Carr