Bitterness is poison. It’s ugly and hurtful, and it can be hard to see that you’re being affected by it until it’s too late. But here’s the thing: bitterness is also something that we all struggle with, even if we don’t want to admit it. We’re humans. We make mistakes, and sometimes those can lead to bitterness in our hearts—even if we didn’t mean for them at first.
So how do we deal with bitterness? How do we move past it? How do we forgive ourselves for being bitter? And what does it look like when someone else is bitter towards us? These are all questions I’ve had myself over the years—and they’re questions I think are worth asking yourself right now as well.
If you’re a bitter friend, or you have one around you, these bitter friends quotes provide you with accurate, to-the-point descriptions of having bitter relationships.
Let’s dive in!
Bitter Friends Quotes
Sometimes, it’s important to remember that, at their core, bitter friends are often just deeply unhappy people who need help. They’re not trying to be mean—they’re just struggling with things that you may never understand. Although it’s not good, if someone is a bitter friend to you, it’s probably because they’re afraid of losing or hurting you.
1. I am yet resolved not to be a bitter friend ever, even to him who has been a bitter enemy.
2. A bitter friend is one who holds a grudge and never forgives.
3. A bitter friend is like a splinter in your heart, and that’s why it’s best to cut them out as soon as possible.
4. The sooner you realize that a friend is a bitter person, the better it will be for everyone involved.
5. In life, you will find that people come and go. Your friendships are only as strong as the quality of your interactions with them. When our relationships grow cold or sour, it is sometimes best to let them go so we can be better people in the future.
6. It takes two to make a bitter friendship. You might be their friend, but they’ll never be yours.
7. You can’t change bitter friends. People need to change themselves if they want to be happy.
8. You’ll have bitter friends and bitter enemies, but the only person you can’t walk away from is the person who walks away from you.
9. We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize that there’s only one person we can change, and that’s ourselves.
10. Bitter friends are sweet enemies to have.
11. Bitter friends will always be stuck in the past, and they will always be stuck in the same situations that made them bitter in the first place.
12. Bitter friends are like medicine. Take them in small doses till you no longer need them, and they will do you good.
13. The real nature of bitter friends leads them to believe that the only way to be happy is by being like everyone else.
14. Bitter friends are like a bad memory. They fade but never go away.
15. The consequences are hard to see when you are a bitter friend. When you are a bitter enemy, the impact is devastating.
16. Some friends are like stars—they are bright, but they don’t last forever.
17. You don’t have to be bitter about the past. You can move on from it and let go of any bitterness that you may have. Let it go!
18. Good friends may come and go, but bitter friends are enemies for a lifetime.
19. Bitter friends are like a splinter in your finger. They’ll only get worse if you ignore them and wait for them to go away on their own.
20. Let’s make a pact never to be bitter; To always be kind and generous with our time, words and actions toward one another.
21. There is no such thing as a foolproof way to catch a bitter friend. Bitter friends will cause you more pain than anything.
22. Friendships take time to build. You can’t just create them overnight, and you cannot take them for granted.
23. Bitter friends can make you bitter; better to move on and stay happy.
24. You cannot get rid of bitter friends by ignoring them; one day, they will turn around to be your enemies.
25. Enemies make us stronger. Bitter friends make us weaker.
26. On the surface, bitter friends are easy to spot. They’re the ones who are constantly complaining about their lives and spreading negativity to everyone around them. But underneath all that, there’s a lot of pain.
27. The world would be nicer if we all were a little more understanding, a little more forgiving, and a little more generous.
28. If you’re a bitter friend, you’re not going to have any friends. You can’t be a bitter friend and keep your friendships.
29. Bitter friendships are the ones with whom you spend so much time trying to fix each other and bring out the best in each other, but then one day, you realize the only thing wrong with your friend was how much she disliked herself.
30. Bitter friends are those who have the power to make you feel miserable. But it is your responsibility to realize they are not the people they appear to be.
31. I don’t necessarily have to be friends with my exes, but I can appreciate that there are some things we can only move on from and put behind us.
32. Bitter friends are like bad habits: they’re easy to start and hard to break.
33. Losing a good friend who has turned bitter is like a bitter pill you have to swallow; you may not like the taste, but it will do you good.
34. Bitter friends are like salt in your wounds.
35. Never trust a bitter friend—they are like poison, and never let bitterness get the best of you—it will only make you bitter.
36. Bitter friends are like half-empty cups; they leave you thirsty.
37. Life would be better if we all had less bitter friends. It’s time to say goodbye to the bitter friends.
38. There are people in your life who are toxic and create negative energy. My advice to you? Don’t be their friend.
39. Bitter friends are like weeds in your garden: They will take over everything if you let them grow.
40. A friend will lift you when he or she sees you at your lowest. A true friend will also hold you up when things aren’t going your way.
41. Don’t let bitterness build up inside of you. It’s not about who made you feel worse; it’s about how you have chosen to move forward and be better than you were.
42. A bitter friend is more dangerous than an open enemy.
43. What drives bitter friends is not simply the lack of love but rather a lack of commitment.
44. The only good thing about bitter friends is that they make you realize how better your real friends are.
45. It takes courage to leave your bitter friend and move on. You deserve joy and happiness in your life, so don’t settle for less.
46. When you hate someone, you hate them. When they leave you, that’s when hate is no longer there. When they move on, then it’s goodbye!
47. Bitter friends are like the thorns in your back. When they prick you, they hurt, but when you pull them out, they’re gone.
48. There’s no use crying over someone who won’t cry over you. You have to learn how to move on from a bitter friend.
49. The only time in your life that you should have a bitter friend is if you’re planning to be bitter.
50. Anyone can be made to feel better by a sweet friend, but only a real friend can make you happy when you are down.
51. When a bitter friend speaks, you are not hearing the words he speaks but rather the tone of his voice.
52. Bitter friends can be hard to deal with. But if you know how to spot them, you can get through it and move on with your life.
53. Bitter friends are the enemies we make for ourselves when we keep choosing to be enemies in someone else’s life.
54. A bitter friend is someone who feels that others have wronged them, and they never let go of their grudges. They will always hold on to their anger, which means they will never be able to move on with their lives.
55. Bitter friends are a grievous offence; if continued, they break the sweetest ties of friendship.
56. A bitter friend holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
57. One of the most difficult things to do is deal with a bitter friend. When you catch yourself in this situation, it is important to own up as soon as possible.
58. Sometimes, moving on is just a matter of letting go of the bitterness and looking forward to the sunshine ahead.
59. It’s so easy to get caught up in the drama of a bitter friendship, but if you’re not careful, your life will be consumed by it. You won’t know what it feels like to be positive and happy anymore.
60. Never let yourself be made bitter by anyone who is not worth your time or effort.
61. The real nature of bitter friends is that they are angry and jealous—not you.
62. A bitter friend is like a thorn in the side, but you can’t ignore it; you either pull it out or die from the horror.
63. Don’t let bitterness ruin your life. If you catch yourself starting to feel bitter about a friend, try focusing on the positives of your relationship instead.
64. Always remember that bitter friends are never going to treat you as well as they treat themselves.
65. When it comes to the art of being a good or bitter friend, you are not what your friends think you are; you are who you choose to be.
66. If you have bitter friends, don’t let them take over your life. Remember that they are not your friends. They are just trying to hurt you.
67. If you have bitter friends, let them go. If they are truly the people they keep up with, they will make new ones.
68. Bitter friendships can be just as toxic as harmful. If you feel yourself becoming bitter, take a step back and put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
69. If you don’t watch out, your bitter friend can worsen a bad situation.
70. A bitter friend is a bad investment and will never last because he will fail.
71. When your friend is a bitter, complaining person and you try to understand, but it hurts, it’s best to let them go.
72. Let go of bitterness, even if it means letting go of an old friend.
73. A bitter friend will make you feel like your life has no purpose and lose hope in everything you once loved and cherished.
74. You can’t change your bitter friend. You have to accept that and move on.
75. Let’s move on from bitter friendships so we can make the most of the ones we have.
76. Bitter friendships are made of little things. The worst thing you can do is be surrounded by people who make you feel small.
77. When someone you call a friend betrays your trust and happiness, it’s hard to let go. But if you hold on too tightly, they will pull away, hurt your feelings and leave you with the bitter aftertaste of friendship.
78. The only way a bitter friend can be happy is by making you unhappy.
79. A bitter friend will make you feel like a stranger. A true friend will make you feel at home.
80. Bitter friends are like bitter medicine. You can’t improve them, but you can always make them disappear.
81. The best way to handle a bitter friendship is to cut ties and move on.
82. Let your bitter friends go and never look back. Don’t worry about the ones who hurt you; it’s time to move on from them.
83. Do not be too quick to judge the character of someone whose personality differs from yours. You may see yourself as better than they are, but the truth is that you are not.
84. Bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies.
85. We all have bitter friends—it’s okay to let go of them.
86. Bitter is one of the most potent emotions in existence. Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll never forget it.
87. We all have our bitter friends. But as time goes on, we can choose to focus on the good parts of life rather than dwell on the bad ones.
88. Bitter friends are like a pesky mosquito that bites you now and then. It makes your skin itchy, irritates you and drains you of energy.
89. When you’re a bitter friend, there’s always one positive thing about your situation that you can take pride in — even if it’s just yourself.
90. Bitter individuals are not always the best friends, even when they seem to be.
91. The real aim of bitter friends is not to help you when you’re down but to join in kicking you as you’re lying there.
92. You can’t hold on to the good things in life if you do not let go of the bad people.
93. If you’re going to be bitter, at least be bitter about something that matters, not your human relationships.
94. There are no bitter friends, only bitter people.
95. Just because you’re bitter doesn’t mean you can’t be sweet.
96. There’s always something great to learn from a bitter experience, but the aftermath can be even more valuable.
97. Bitter friends are like wet cement. They hold you back, stop you from growing and can even fall on your head.
98. The best thing you can do for a bitter friend is to stop being their friend.
99. Sometimes, we want to be angry at people when they hurt us, but then we realize it was their problem—not ours.
100. You know you’re a bitter friend when you’ve spent more time plotting their downfall than making them feel better.
101. When you’ve had enough, you’ve got to move on. Bitter friends are better off left behind.
102. There are two times in your life when you should never choose a bitter friend: when you are happy and when you are sad.
103. Having no friends is better than being with a bad and bitter friend.
104. Bitter friendships are like a virus; they can spread quickly and become hard to break once they are comfortable.
105. Bitter people are like aspirin that’s been taken out of its wrapper and left on the counter for too long—it’s still useful for headaches, but it’s not as effective as it used to be.
106. The bitter friend is a traitor of the highest order. The friendship of a bitter friend is like poison.
107. The real nature of bitter friends is not that they are enemies but that they are friends whom we have disappointed by our failure to live up to their expectations.
108. Denying your loved ones, having an inferiority complex, and making others feel like there’s no place for them in your life, is a sign that you may be a bitter friend.
109. The next time you find yourself struggling with a friend who is always negative, stay positive and remember that it’s only a matter of time before they change their ways and become your best friend again.
110. A single friend can better a pair of bitter enemies.
111. The most difficult thing about being a bitter friend is realizing when it’s time to move on.
112. You will never know the true nature of a bitter friend until you have lost him or her. But once you do, there is no doubt they are the most toxic people in your life.
113. Bitter friendships are hard to end. But we all can resolve them with time and patience.
114. A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the way you are.
115. You can’t have a friend without mutual respect, and you can’t have mutual respect without honesty.
116. Bitter people are like poison ivy; they thrive on attention but only cause pain when touched.
117. A person who always makes negative remarks about others in a superior way is called a bitter friend.
118. The real nature of bitter friendships is that they are rooted in a toxic emotion, and one friend’s happiness is at stake.
119. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you might find that you get what you need.
120. Whether we are bitter friends or not, if it’s about one thing, you should know that the most important thing for being a good friend is being your true self.
121. If you catch someone being a bitter friend, keep an eye on them. Bitter friends are like poison; they can kill you.
122. There’s a reason why some friends are bitter, and it’s not because they hate you. It’s because they’ve been hurt in the past by people who were supposed to be their friends too—and that can make them scared of letting anyone else in.
123. When you spot a bitter and withdrawn person, it’s usually because their life has become painful. The best way to deal with a bitter friend is to get them to open up about their problems and then try to help them deal with them.
124. You don’t need a bitter friend to show you the world. Just look out for them, and you will be safe.
125. Bitter friends are cancerous; they grow and spread until their negativity consumes your entire life.
126. A true friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg even though he knows you’re slightly cracked. But a bitter friend will hate you for it.
127. You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. You can’t stop a friend from being bitter, but you can learn to move away.
128. A bitter friend is someone who treats you badly, but not always in a way that’s malicious or harmful. They may just be unable to deal with the fact that they’ve lost control over someone else’s life.
129. Bitter words can be swallowed without harm, but when uttered by the mouth of others, sweet words bring pleasure. Hence the wise should watch their mouths.
130. Bitter friends aren’t always easy to spot, but they can be pretty toxic to your well-being and success.
131. The first step in getting over a bitter friendship is recognizing that this person may not be right for you. If they’re treating others badly and making everyone miserable, then it’s time for them to move on.
132. Bitter friends don’t have your best interests at heart. They just want to get back at you for whatever reason, and they’ll do it any way they can, even if it means hurting themselves in the process.
133. When you are in a relationship with someone negative, it can be hard to see the good in that person. But cutting them out of your life will bring focus and clarity back into your life.
134. Bitter friends are hard to deal with. They make you feel bad about yourself and make you want to give up on your dreams. They’re especially hard when you’ve been friends for years, and it feels like a betrayal to leave them behind.
135. Some people in this world are just not meant to be your friend. They keep you down and make you feel bad about yourself. It’s hard, but you have to move on!
136. When you’re a bitter friend, all the sweetness in the world is poison.
137. It’s hard to choose whether to stay or go when it comes to bitter friends. But sometimes, it’s worth it to break the cycle and move on with your life.
138. Bitter friends are worse than no friends at all, and being a friend of the bitter is not something to be proud of.
139. Bitter friends are bitter because they keep their hearts closed; if you keep your heart open, they can hurt you.
140. Friends are pearls, and bitter ones are shells.
141. Don’t waste your time on bitter friends; the only people who will stand by you in life are those who want to see you win.
142. Some people in your life aren’t going to be easy to get along with. But sometimes, it’s the people who are difficult that really help you grow as a person. So don’t give up on those friends too quickly!
143. It’s hard to let go of a friend who is sad, but it’s even harder to let go of an angry friend because you’d rather feel the pain that comes from the sadness than the anger that comes from the anger.
144. Bitter friends are full of bitter surprises and bad experiences.
145. The best thing you can do to avoid becoming bitter is to be a good friend, and the best way to be a good friend is to take the time to learn about yourself and make sure that you’re acting in a way that’s healthy for you.
146. When a friend is no longer your friend, you will know it. The happy times will seem wild, and the hard times will be even colder.
147. Bitter friends are the ones that drag you down and keep you from reaching your potential.
148. You simply let go and move on when you’re through with a person. There should be no bitterness involved.
149. Bitter friends may become true enemies, and true enemies will always remain bitter friends.
Bitter people are more likely to be critical, hostile and difficult to get along with. It is important to take a step back in order to identify the signs of a bitter person so that you can avoid their negative influence on your life. Bitter people criticize others and talk badly about them behind their backs. They also tend to make fun of others and try to be funny when they are not.
A bitter friend is someone who sees the good in you, but only when it’s convenient for them. If you’re friends with someone who’s constantly unhappy and angry, it can be hard to know how to deal with. These bitter friends quotes point out what to look out for and what to do when you see the red flags that a bitter friend is becoming more than just a friend.