42 Quotes on Users: Learn to Escape the Clutches of Toxic People

Many of us have sadly found ourselves in situations where someone has used us. This experience can make us feel worthless, but it doesn't have to. Read the following 45 quotes to find your value again and regain your strength.

Most of us naturally trust, believing that the people around us have good intentions and want the best for us. However, the older we get, the more cynical we become as we slowly realize that not everyone is well-intentioned ― and maybe their intentions are even dark and unimaginable.

Within this group of people, we find the "users." They may use your heart, money, and time, but whatever they take leaves you empty. Read the following 45 quotes to learn more about users, advice on spotting and dealing with them, and taking your power back.

Darlene Ouimet's quote: "Controllers, abusers, and manipulative people don't question themselves. They don't ask themselves if the problem is them. They always say the problem is someone else." | Image: AmoDays

Quotes on Users and Their Immorality

"The opposite of love is not hate; it is use. Use is the abuse of love; in fact, it betrays love. When we use another person, we place their needs below our own, but worse yet, we place their value and dignity below ours." ― Leah Darrow

"There is no such thing as a people who are all wicked or even all good. Everyone chooses. But even they, even they looked at people and saw only tools. No one is a cup for another to drink from." — Catherynne M. Valente

"Anytime you're taking advantage of other people financially, I think some sort of punishment is definitely correct." ― Cliff Seigneur

"Controllers, abusers, and manipulative people don't question themselves. They don't ask themselves if the problem is them. They always say the problem is someone else." — Darlene Ouimet

"With all the toys in the world, people choose feelings to play with." ― Tyga

Catherynne M. Valente’s quote: "There is no such thing as a people who are all wicked or even all good. Everyone chooses. But even they, even they looked at people and saw only tools. No one is a cup for another to drink from." | Image: AmoDays

"All people have feelings; they are not there to be used. If you're not longer interested in someone, they have the right to be informed before you go and cheat or go looking elsewhere." — Jerry Springer

"Don't use men to get what you want in life. Get it yourself." ― Helen Gurley Brown

Quotes on Helping Rather than Using

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." — Dalai Lama

"...leadership…is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine." — Chris Hadfield

Quotes on Users and the Pain They Cause

"Do not assume that someone else's ego can love you. It cannot. It does not even love the person it resides in. The limit of the ego's 'love' is to decide that you are a temporary ally, and thus it will protect you for the benefit of its own use. Only a soul can accept and return love. Everything else is manipulation. Fragile arrangements. They are, at best, suspicious and, at worst, vicious." ― Donna Goddar

Oscar Wilde’s quote: "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." | Image: AmoDays

"I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside. It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt." — Marie Lu

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." — Oscar Wilde

Quotes on Users in the World of Success and Achievement

"When you're nothing, people will ignore you, but when you're on top, that's when everybody swear they know you." — Lincey Alphonse

"I know so many girls that have felt like they've been taken advantage of. Not only in the music business but in every single career out there." — Margo Price

"I have learned that people at the bottom use others' bodies to climb to the top." — Mandla Langa

Quotes on Standing up to Users: Taking One's Power Back

Delilah S. Dawson’s quote: "I need you, not it. And I'm done being used. If you're going to take from me, you're going to start giving back, and I'll start with your heart." | Image: AmoDays

"Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing." — Theodore Roosevelt

"I need you, not it. And I'm done being used. If you're going to take from me, you're going to start giving back, and I'll start with your heart." — Delilah S. Dawson

"I'm open to the possibilities of being one of those people who reach certain heights without being owned by others." ― Tony A. Gaskins

"While someone may have used you, that experience may have made you stronger, wiser, and better." — Richard Osibanjo

"If there are people in your life that you feel are using you, you need to reset the boundaries. Learn to say "no." People only treat us as bad as we allow." ― Laura Barrette Shannon

Marie Lu’s quote: "I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside. It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt." | Image: AmoDays

"This is our skin, and nobody has the right to crumple us like a paper only to find another skin to write on, and then another, ruining people like they're pages like they are somehow replaceable. Because that will only leave our delicate and fragile selves into a tattered mess." ― Heema Shirvaikar

"The worst thing about being underweight or overweight; too dark or too white ―in short, too plain and bland in someone's perception is the fact that most people just end up talking to you because they feel you can be a good stepping stone. And guess what – it sucks! It sucks being the ladder to so many, helping everyone grow and bloom, only to find yourself splayed upon the mud to be used as a path from one person to another. Not moving an inch. Just lying there on the sticky dirt-infused ground – hoping someone would help you up – no one ever comes. The only person who can help you crawl out is yourself. Get up. Try. Just try. You are enough!" ― Sijdah Hussain

Quotes on How to Avoid Being Used

"Beware of fair-weather friends. They come to you when the sky is crystal clear and disappear when the same sky is overcast with dark clouds." ― Michael Bassey Johnson

"I don't let people use me. That's why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum." ― Anita Baker

"If you appear weak, people take advantage of you." — Sherry Argov

Michael Bassey Johnson’s quote: "Beware of fair-weather friends. They come to you when the sky is crystal clear and disappear when the same sky is overcast with dark clouds." | Image: AmoDays

"Don't let anyone control your life; Most people are full of schemes." — Tamesha Curry

"You don't have to let yourself be used like toilet paper and flushed down the toilet." — Mike Jason

"Know when you're being taken advantage of." ― Agnes Bonas

"Do not allow yourself to be used for a life that is below your potential for good." — Michael McFadden

"Do not assume that someone else's ego can love you. It cannot. It does not even love the person it resides in. The limit of the ego's 'love' is to decide that you are a temporary ally, and thus it will protect you for the benefit of its own use. Only a soul can accept and return love. Everything else is manipulation. Fragile arrangements. They are, at best, suspicious and, at worst, vicious." ― Donna Goddar

Ciara Graves' quote: "Always question everything, and never let yourself be used. Never become somebody's pawn." | Image: AmoDays

"Spend your time with those who love you unconditionally, not with those who only love you under certain conditions." ― Suzy Kassem

"You can't always be nice. That's how people take advantage of you. Sometimes you have to set boundaries." ― Ritu Ghatourey

"Know the difference between helping others and being used by them." ― Agnes Bonas

"Always question everything, and never let yourself be used. Never become somebody's pawn." — Ciara Graves

Useful Quotes That Everyone Can Use

"Seems their lives have been abused; With a risk of being used, no happiness to find." ― Ben Adams

"You are a manipulator. I like to think of myself more as an outcome engineer." — J.R. Ward

Kamaran Ihsan Salih’s quote: “Using people has limit.” | Image: AmoDays

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.'" — Erich Fromm

"Men are used as they use others." ―.Bidpai

"Using people to leverage a refined process multiplies production, using people as a poor solution to a poor process multiplies problems." ― Timothy Ferriss

“Using people has limit.” ― Kamaran Ihsan Salih

"You are a manipulator. I like to think of myself more as an outcome engineer." — J.R. Ward

"I feel so used. I find I like it." — J.D. Robb

Margo Price’s quote: "I know so many girls that have felt like they've been taken advantage of. Not only in the music business but in every single career out there." | Image: AmoDays

Now while there are users worldwide, many individuals treat their friends and family with unconditional love. They stay there through the dark periods of their lives and don't jump ship when a person can not give them exactly what they want all the time.

These are the people we need to find to live fulfilling lives. Perhaps some of us are lucky enough to have one or two people who already care about us in this way; in some cases, these are our best friends.

If so, show your best friend how much you appreciate them by sending them these 90 best friend quotes.