120 Stress Quotes To Bring Relaxation And Ease

By Maxime Lagacé

Maxime is the founder and chief editor of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm, powerful, and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page.

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55% of Americans are stressed.

But most people don’t understand what stress is and why they are stressed.

That’s why I’ve gathered 120 of the best stress quotes that will help you relax.

And the ultimate goal is this:

to make you feel at ease and peaceful in today’s modern world.

You’ll discover quotes by Einstein, Lao Tzu, Gandhi, and many more.

Enjoy!

Stress is the inability to decide what’s important. @AmuseChimp

Stress and confusion come from being busy. Peace and clarity come from slowing down and stilling your waters. Maxime Lagacé

A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness. Albert Einstein

Stress is caused by being “here” but wanting to be “there”. Eckhart Tolle

Every once in a while, do you just like to take your time with what you’re doing? Fred Rogers

stress quotes today refuse myself about things cannot control change mel robbins wisdom

Today I refuse to stress myself out about things I cannot control or change. Mel Robbins

Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it. Kahlil Gibran

The need for certainty is the greatest disease the mind faces. Robert Greene

Society has sold you the greatest of lies, that the goal of life is to become “happy.” This one chase has cost you your life. Kapil Gupta

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott

stress quotes unease anxiety tension worry all forms fear caused much future enough presence eckhart tolle wisdom

Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Eckhart Tolle

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves. Jack Kornfield

You may have a million desires to be in other places, doing other things, but you are not there, you are here. Zen proverb

The high value put upon every minute of time, the idea of hurry-hurry as the most important objective of living, is unquestionably the most dangerous enemy of joy. Hermann Hesse

The anxiety of worry is almost always worse than the actual consequences. Stop worrying and start doing. James Clear

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The Best Stress Quotes

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The solution is often a good dose of indifference. Maxime Lagacé

Don’t think about the past. Just be here now. Don’t think about the future. Just be here now. Ram Dass

90% of what you’re stressing about right now won’t even matter a year from now. Take a deep breath. Mel Robbins

Throw out the excess, clean up the mess, say no to stress, and live with less. Joshua Becker

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. Marcus Aurelius

Don’t spin your wheels trying to get everything done. Focus on getting the right things done instead. Greg McKeown

Comfort makes you weaker. We need some variability, some stressors. Not too much, but just enough. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

In a year, 95% of the things that stress you out now you’ll look back and laugh at. The other 5%, you should probably get to work on. Justin Kan

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Lao Tzu

Stress, anxiety and depression are caused when we are living to please others. Paulo Coelho

Daily news and sugar confuse our system in the same manner. Nassim Nicholas Taleb (Antifragile, Amazon book)

Our civilization, which is lost in doing, knows nothing of Being. It asks: being? What do you do with it?” Eckhart Tolle

We get such a kick out of looking forward to pleasures and rushing ahead to meet them that we can’t slow down to enjoy them when they come. Alan Watts

Stress is not created by the events in your life, but by your reaction to them. James Pierce

Only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter. Greg McKeown (Essentialism, Amazon book)

The faster and busier things get, the more we need to build thinking time into our schedule. And the noisier things get, the more we need to build quiet reflection spaces in which we can truly focus. Greg McKeown

When a situation is within your control, take action. When a situation is outside your control, make preparations. James Clear

Do not seek to have everything that happens happen as you wish, but wish for everything to happen as it actually does happen, and your life will be serene. Epictetus

When you become a lover of what is, the war is over. Byron Katie

Part 2. Stress Quotes That Are…

The Most Famous Stress Quotes

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Searching for a famous quote about stress or a famous author? Check out those by Dalai Lama, Oprah, Plato, Montaigne, etc.

Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except your self. Buddha

An ignorant state, stress is. Yoda

A certain amount of doing nothing, and stopping rushing around, would cool everything. Alan Watts

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. Marcus Aurelius

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. William James

In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers. Fred Rogers

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. James Allen

Don’t try to force anything. Let life be a deep let-go. God opens millions of flowers every day without forcing their buds. Osho

There are two medicines for all ills: time and silence. Alexander Dumas

There is more to life than increasing its speed. Mahatma Gandhi

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Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. Oprah Winfrey

Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. Hermann Hesse

You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside. Wayne Dyer

The truth is that there is no actual stress or anxiety in the world; it’s your thoughts that create these false beliefs. You can’t package stress, touch it, or see it. There are only people engaged in stressful thinking. Wayne Dyer

If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person. Seneca

Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head. Michel de Montaigne

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being. Plato

Self-command is the main elegance. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Short Stress Quotes

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One-liners, short stress quotes, sayings, thoughts, and captions for your bio, social status, self-talk, motto, mantra, signs, posters, wallpapers, and backgrounds.

Our root is quietude. Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching, Amazon book)

This too shall pass. Thibaut

Let go of what may come. Tilopa

Embrace stress, don’t avoid it. Shane Parrish

They are rushed and busy. You are calm and stready. Maxime Lagacé

Problems only exist in the human mind. Anthony de Mello

The whole world is not looking at you. Thibaut

Just do your best. Never try to impress. Maxime Lagacé

Make peace with the present moment. Eckhart Tolle

Inspirational Stress Quotes

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Stop thinking, and end your problems. Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching)

You don’t always have to have something to do. Don’t rush. Conserve some of your resources for yourself. Iyanla Vanzant

Your best self can be found based on how you respond to failure. David Goggins

You know you’re becoming wise when you care more about what you control and less about what you don’t. Maxime Lagacé

You are far from the only nervous person in the room. Thibaut

When you have a moment, just listen to the beauty of silence. It has so much to say. Armin Ganguly

Learn to watch your drama unfold while at the same time knowing you are more than your drama. Ram Dass

When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind, and fearless. Byron Katie

Related: 16 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress (healthline.com)

Helpful Stress Sayings

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We should always be asking ourselves: “Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?” Epictetus

It is not external events themselves that cause us distress, but the way in which we think about them…It is our attitudes and reactions that give us trouble. We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them. Epictetus

Renew yourself completely every day; do it again, and again, and forever again. Zen proverb

If you feel lost… sit down, close your eyes, breathe, put your hands on your heart, repeat forever. Courtney Carver

Stress exists only in your mind. Peace exists only in the acceptance of the present moment. Maxime Lagacé

Let go of what has passed. Let go of what may come. Let go of what is happening now. Don’t try to figure anything out. Don’t try to make anything happen. Relax, right now, and rest. Tilopa

When you need to calm down… Breathe in for 5 counts. Hold for 5 counts. Breathe out for 5 counts. Hold for 5 counts. Repeat the cycle 2 more times. Gabby Bernstein

Observe a stressful thought. Notice how your shoulders tense, your stomach tightens, you hold your breath. Keep watching that same thought. Don’t push it away, instead change your reaction to it. Breathe deeply, let go, relax your body. You’re okay. It’s just a thought. Breathe. Jason Garner

Stop doing. Start being. It begins with a single thought and a simple statement – I AM. Iyanla Vanzant

If you find yourself mentally exhausted: change your environment. Unclutter your desk. Take a shower. Go for a a walk. Refresh your mental state. @LifeMathMoney

When you feel overwhelmed, start eliminating all the non-essential things from your life. Clarity brings calm. Darius Foroux

Restore your attention or bring it to a new level by dramatically slowing down whatever you’re doing. Sharon Salzberg

Finding a moment to sit and just do nothing can be very healing, transforming, and nourishing. Thich Nhat Hanh

Funny Stress Sayings

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Dogs bark at what they cannot understand. Heraclitus

Sometimes it’s better to react with no reaction. Unknown

Never make a decision when you are stressed, depressed, or being caressed. Thibaut

Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. Albert Einstein

Deep Stress Sayings

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The difficulty of describing things for Western ears is that people in a hurry cannot feel. Alan Watts

Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. Lily Tomlin

Every kind of fear grows worse by not being looked at. Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness, Amazon book)

When we don’t choose what’s important, everything seems important. Maxime Lagacé

Awareness is inherently pure like the empty sky. Stress, annoyance, and anger can temporarily occupy its space but can never pollute it. Haemin Sunim

The modern struggle: Lone individuals summoning inhuman willpower, fasting, meditating, and exercising, up against armies of scientists and statisticians weaponizing abundant food, screens, and medicine into junk food, clickbait news, infinite porn, endless games and addictive drugs. Naval Ravikant

Human life is gradually turning from a struggle against suffering into a struggle against pleasure. Gurwinder Bhogal

Stress is a state of generalized vulnerability. Luca Dellanna

How do you beat your inner turmoil? You can’t beat it, you can only stop creating it. Thibaut

The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Epictetus

Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started. David Allen

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Natalie Goldberg

It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. Hans Selye

Wise Stress Sayings

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Flow with whatever happens and let your mind be free. Zhuangzi

The river becomes calm when it reaches the ocean. Find your ocean each day. Maxime Lagacé

Don’t rush. It’s wiser to go slowly in the right direction than fast in the wrong one. Maxime Lagacé

Feeling irritated, restless, afraid, and hopeless is a reminder to listen more carefully. It’s a reminder to stop talking; watch and listen. Pema Chödrön

What you want is to develop a sustainable habit: a stress-free approach to reducing your stress. Greg McKeown

People work out, they stress their body, and their body gets stronger from stress. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Don’t be blindly ambitious or blindly lazy. Find a balance between mindful action and peaceful inaction. @dailyzen

Remember that stress doesn’t come from what’s going on in your life. It comes from your thoughts about what’s going on in your life. Andrew J. Bernstein

No desires, no goal, no seeking, no thoughts, neither obtaining, nor rejecting, nor grasping, nor letting go, being free. Taisen Deshimaru

Stress happens when something you care about is at stake. It’s not a sign to run away – it’s a sign to step forward. Kelly McGonigal (The Upside of Stress, Amazon book)

In general, obstacles force your mind to focus and find ways around them. They heighten your mental powers and should be welcomed. Robert Greene

We all want comfort and fulfillment. But fulfillment demands progress, and progress is uncomfortable. Decide which one is higher on your values list, and be willing to pay the price. Johnny Uzan

The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance. Epicurus

If you understood the nature of your problem, you wouldn’t have one. Byron Katie

Related: Meditation for Stress (headspace.com)

Conclusion

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Most of the time, life isn’t an emergency. Much of the time, things will be fine. Save the rush for when it is needed. Thibaut

Let’s recap:

Stress is fine and natural. Instead of fighting it, learn to cope with it (cdc.gov).
Want 2 simple mindsets for less stress?
- Try to accept more
- Try to let go more
Remember: it’s useless to stress about things we don’t control.
Your ego wants to be busy, but your soul needs simplicity.
Quick 5-minute actions for less stress:
- Take a walk outside (Source)
- Meditate (Source)
- Smile (Source)
- Write how you’re feeling (Source)
- Talk to a friend (Source)