Be the bigger person quotes encourage maturity, grace, and wisdom in addressing difficult situations.
These phrases remind you of the importance of rising above minor disputes, personal grievances, and short-term frustrations to maintain peace and foster positive relationships.
Emphasizing forgiveness, patience, and humility, these quotes will serve as a guide for you if you wish to navigate interpersonal disputes with dignity.
Top Be the Bigger Person Quotes
Being the bigger person often means extending grace and kindness in the face of pettiness or negativity. Here are ten powerful quotes that capture the essence of this admirable trait.
“Rise above the storm, and you will find the sunshine.” – Mario Fernandez
“Being the bigger person shows strength, not weakness.” – Unknown
“Choose being kind over being right, and you’ll be right every time.” – Richard Carlson
“No one has ever made themselves great by showing how small someone else is.” – Irvin Himmel
“To be the bigger person, walk away from fights, forgive quickly, and love truly.” – Unknown
“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” – James M. Barrie
“The real test of power is not capacity to make war but capacity to prevent it.” – Anne O’Hare McCormick
“You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” – Unknown
“Bigger people recognize the importance of others achieving their own victories.” – Wes Fesler
“Being the bigger person in a situation isn’t saying you are wrong and they are right, it’s saying that your peace is more important.” – Unknown
Also Read: True People Quotes (with Commentary)
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a pivotal aspect of being the bigger person. It involves letting go of grievances to foster peace and understanding. These quotes reflect the profound impact of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” – Unknown
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
“Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.” – Unknown
“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” – Paul Boese
“Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.” – Robert Brault
“Forgiveness isn’t approving what happened. It’s choosing to rise above it.” – Robin Sharma
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Conflict Resolution
In moments of conflict, being the bigger person can transform the outcome and the relationship. These quotes offer wisdom on how to approach disagreements with grace and maturity.
“The true mark of maturity is when somebody hurts you and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back.” – Unknown
“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” – Ronald Reagan
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” – Desmond Tutu
“To resolve conflicts, start with what’s right, not who’s right.” – Unknown
“Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” – Wayne Dyer
“It’s not differences that divide us. It’s our judgments about each other that do.” – Margaret J. Wheatley
“You can’t control other people’s behavior, but you can choose how you respond to it.” – Unknown
“Sometimes, it’s better to bend than to break.” – Unknown
“Resolution comes through communication, not silence.” – Unknown
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Patience
Patience is a virtue that often requires one to be the bigger person. These quotes delve into the strength and serenity that come from practicing patience in challenging situations.
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” – Joyce Meyer
“Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious.” – Phillips Brooks
“Our patience will achieve more than our force.” – Edmund Burke
“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Saint Augustine
“To lose patience is to lose the battle.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy
“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.” – Saint Francis de Sales
“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” – David G. Allen
“Good things come to those who wait but better things come to those who work for it.” – Unknown
“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Compassion
Compassion often means placing someone else’s needs and emotions at the forefront, effectively removing ourselves from the center of our world. This selfless attitude fosters a sense of unity and shared humanity, essential for personal growth and societal harmony.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia
“In compassion, when we feel with the other, we dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and we put another person there.” – Karen Armstrong
“Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.” – Prince
“Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It’s the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” – Frederick Buechner
“Compassion is the key to humanity. Without it, we are diminished.” – John Connolly
“Your compassion is a blessing that touches the heart and soul of all who cross your path.” – Nikki Rowe
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde
“Compassion is the ultimate act of self-love. When you help others, you help yourself.” – Akiroq Brost
“Kindness is a universal language that transcends boundaries and speaks to the soul.” – Unknown
“Compassion is the desire to ease the suffering of others. It is a noble quality that makes the world a better place.” – Unknown
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Pride and Humility
Understanding the balance between pride and humility is crucial in being the bigger person. Pride can be positive, fostering self-respect and dignity; however, humility grounds us, reminding us of our shared human frailties and the importance of empathy and kindness.
“Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.” – 14th Dalai Lama
“Every one of us has the capacity to love, to forgive, to understand, and to be compassionate.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“They live in wisdom who see themselves in all and all in them, who have renounced every selfish desire and sense-craving tormenting the heart.” – Bhagavad Gita
“A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good he has done to his fellowmen.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Compassion, as love, is something which is not of the mind.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
“The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.” – Mother Teresa
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein
“True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” – Martin Luther King Jr
“The soul is composed of love, compassion, wisdom, peace, and joy. Those are all in us.” – Ram Dass
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Leading by Example
Leading by example is a powerful form of leadership that encourages us to set a standard for others. It’s about living the values you want to see in others, not just instructing but doing. This approach to leadership showcases the importance of actions over words, inspiring others to rise by our example.
“True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” – Sheri L. Dew
“My research debunks the myth that many people seem to have… that you become a leader by fighting your way to the top. Rather, you become a leader by helping others to the top.” – William Cohen
“Good leaders must first become good servants.” – Robert K. Greenleaf
“If you want to improve the organization, you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you.” – Indra Nooyi
“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful.” – Edward R. Murrow
“A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so that they can get on with their jobs.” – Robert Townsend
“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” – Alexander the Great
“To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn’t know where he is going.” – Joe Namath
“A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader, just by example.” – Joe DiMaggio
“It is absurd that a man should rule others, who cannot rule himself.” – Latin Proverb
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Rising Above
Rising above challenges and conflicts is essential for growth and leadership. It involves maintaining integrity and vision in the face of adversity, demonstrating resilience and the capacity to lead by positive example even under pressure.
“You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.” – Ken Kesey
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
“Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.” – Larry Bird
“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.” – Ara Parseghian
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek
“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” – George S. Patton
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” – Warren Bennis
“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” – Ray Kroc
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence represents the harmonious blend of our hearts and minds, guiding us through both personal and interpersonal challenges with grace and understanding. It highlights our ability to navigate emotions to foster better communication, empathy, and effective leadership.
“Emotional intelligence begins to develop in the earliest years. All the small exchanges children have with their parents, teachers, and with each other carry emotional messages.” – Daniel Goleman
“Instead of resisting any emotion, the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully, embrace it and see through your resistance.” – Deepak Chopra
“Emotions are hard, but that’s what makes you strong! Those who think emotional people are weak should know the same emotions give strength. Each time someone tries to break you, unknowingly, they make you stronger.” – Anurag Chauhan
“Your emotions are a guide. They show you what is important to you and what matters to you.” – Sunita Rai
“If you cannot feel your emotions, if you are cut off from them, you will eventually experience them on a purely physical level, as a physical problem or symptom.” – Eckhart Tolle
“It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of heart over head – it is the unique intersection of both.” – David Caruso
“The strength of character and emotional intelligence to face your failures and learn from them are at the core of success.” – Robert Kiyosaki
“Emotions are a critical source of information for learning.” – Joseph Ledoux
“Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we have a clear picture of it.” – Benedict Spinoza
“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.” – Benjamin Franklin
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Self-Control
Self-control is a pivotal aspect of emotional intelligence, allowing us to manage our impulses and emotions to make thoughtful and beneficial decisions. It is essential for maintaining personal equanimity and fostering positive social interactions.
“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.” – Dale Carnegie
“Apologizing doesn’t always mean you’re wrong and the other person is right. It means you value your relationship more than your ego.” – Anonymous
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else: you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
“The only way to change someone’s mind is to connect with them from the heart.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru
“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.” – Epictetus
“When you make people angry, they act in accordance with their baser instincts, often violently and irrationally. When you inspire people, they act in accordance with their higher instincts, sensibly and rationally.” – Peace Pilgrim
“My message for everyone is the same: that if we can learn to identify, express, and harness our feelings, even the most challenging ones, we can use those emotions to help us create positive, satisfying lives.” – Marc Brackett
“Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business.” – Norman Vincent Peale
“The idea that you have to be protected from any kind of uncomfortable emotion is what I absolutely do not subscribe to.” – John Cleese
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Accountability
Accountability is fundamental to growth and integrity, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility for our actions. It challenges us to be honest and reliable, standing firm even in adversity.
“Accountability breeds response-ability.” – Stephen R. Covey
“It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one’s acts.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life.” – Hal Elrod
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.” – Jim Rohn
“Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results.” – Bob Proctor
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
“We are all responsible and accountable for what we do or say even if those behaviors occur in stressful times.” – Byron Pulsifer
“It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” – Sir Josiah Stamp
“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.” – Robert Anthony
Be the Bigger Person Quotes on Long-Term Thinking
Long-term thinking involves looking beyond the immediate to envision the larger outcome of our actions. It teaches patience and foresight, key elements in sustaining personal and professional growth.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Take ownership of your fears and watch how you soar.” – Unknown
“Success is not about the destination, but the journey. It’s about taking responsibility for every step along the way.” – Unknown
“Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” – Frank Outlaw
“Leadership is all about emotional intelligence. Management is taught, while leadership is experienced.” – Rajeev Suri
“What really matters for success, character, happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests.” – Daniel Goleman
“Never stop because you are afraid – you are never so likely to be wrong.” – Fridtjof Nansen
“Accountability is – first and foremost – about being reliable.” – Henry J. Evans
Also Read: Boba Fett Quotes (with Commentary)
Final Thoughts
“Be the bigger person” quotes offer helpful life lessons on the power of restraint and the virtue of taking the high road.
They challenge you to ponder on your actions and reactions, which pushes us to lead by example and influence others positively through your behavior.
These quotes fortify the idea that true strength doesn’t lie in winning every argument, but in encouraging an environment of mutual respect and understanding.