49 Demon Quotes to Exorcise Your Inner Darkness

To look in the mirror, stare straight into our own eyes, and be completely honest with ourselves is not an easy feat; it is an exercise that requires us to work with darker parts of ourselves that we may not want to look at. However, it's now time to explore your inner demons by going through the 49 quotes below.

When many of us imagine demons, we think of evil creatures of an underworld, ready to cause harm and destruction to whoever and whatever is in their path. However, what about our inner demons?

One would be hard-pressed to find any individual in the world with no inner demons. The difference comes between those willing to face them and those who bury them deep down. Read the following 49 quotes to dive deeper into the discomforting world of our demons.

Joseph Campbell’s quote: "It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world." | Image: AmoDays

Creativity and Inner Demons

"On the other hand, what I like my music to do to me is awaken the ghosts inside of me. Not the demons, you understand, but the ghosts." — David Bowie

" .. write honestly; I have to confront my demons." — Isabel Allende

"I do put a lot of God in my music, but not because I'm super religious. There are a lot of demons in my music, too. I acknowledge both." — J. Cole

"There are parts of me that I keep secret even from myself. I have demons, and I'd love to be able to healthily look at the demons and still be a wonderful actor and not feel I need them to create." — John Glover

"I write to understand my circumstances, to sort out the confusion of reality, to exorcise my demons. But most of all, I write because I love it!" — Isabel Allende

David Bowie’s quote: "On the other hand, what I like my music to do to me is awaken the ghosts inside of me. Not the demons, you understand, but the ghosts." | Image: AmoDays

"Aging is not uncomplicated. Creativity is an extraordinary help against destructive demons." — Ingmar Bergman

"I feel like the job of an artist is to confront their own darkness and their own demons and fears. And I want to make movies that feel human up on the screen. I don't really relate to dudes wearing spandex and capes." — Derek Cianfrance

"Creativity is what helps me escape a lot of my inner demons." — Demi Lovato

"I just block out the demons. I sing. I block them away. I put my pain into my music." — Dolores O'Riordan

J. Cole’s quote: "I do put a lot of God in my music, but not because I'm super religious. There are a lot of demons in my music, too. I acknowledge both." | Image: AmoDays

Quotes of People Opening Up about Inner Demons

"Everyone has monsters and demons within themselves. They're metaphors for the human condition." — Mark Pellegrino

"I have my own demons and dark moods. It's weird." — Chris Rock

"I feel that people are basically trying to do their best in the world. Even when you see people making mistakes, you understand why they're making a mistake. Everybody has flaws, everybody has demons, everybody has ghosts, but I think you watch people, and you see everybody trying to do their best." — Jason Katims

"Schizophrenia demons live in my head." — Wesley Willis

"Be kind to people and don't judge, for you do not know what demons they carry and what battles they are fighting." ― Vashti Quiroz-Vega

Mark Pellegrino’s quote: "Everyone has monsters and demons within themselves. They're metaphors for the human condition." | Image: AmoDays

"I'd rather face mythological creatures or paranormal beings than to deal with my own demons. Nothing's scarier than being alone with your thoughts." ― Amanda Rose

"Everywhere I looked, demons of the future [were] on the battlegrounds of one's emotional plane." ― David Bowie

"Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself." — Lao Tzu

Quotes about Overcoming One's Demons

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing." — August Wilson

"You simply have to accept that your demons are a part of you." — Aurora

Oliver Sykes’ quote: "We try so hard to block out negative or dark thoughts, but sometimes embracing your demons is the most vitalizing thing you can do." | Image: AmoDays

"Every war has its demons." — Richard Engel

"We're products of this world we were born into. We all battle our own demons. Everyone is troubled in the dark, but please just stop & think about the babies. They're gonna be here long after we leave." — Brent Faiyaz

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." — Buddha

"You cannot defeat darkness by running from it, nor can you conquer your inner demons by hiding them from the world. In order to defeat the darkness, you must bring it into the light." ― Seth Adam

Wesley Willis’ quote: "Schizophrenia demons live in my head." | Image: AmoDays

"We try so hard to block out negative or dark thoughts, but sometimes embracing your demons is the most vitalizing thing you can do." — Oliver Sykes

"Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don't throw away the best of yourself." ― Friedrich Nietzsche

"Everybody fights demons. Some are worse than others." — John Daly

"Being mentally tough is having to battle those demons and push yourself out of your comfort zone and force yourself to be the person that your mind is telling you you aren't." — Michael Chiesa

Buddha’s quote: "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." | Image: AmoDays

"Comebacks are not at all easy. After a major surgery, the difficult part is to conquer the inner demons. It's all in the mind. Only an individual can overcome his fears." ― Rohit Sharma

"You struggle with your demons, and you conquer them." ― Kinky Friedman

"It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world." ― Joseph Campbell

"If you don't deal with your demons, they will deal with you, and it's gonna hurt." ― Nikki Sixx

Quotes on Religion and Demons

"The scripture is filled with examples of genuine masculinity; you could mine David's story for probably a year by itself. And we have to get the masculinity of Jesus back. Not the pale-faced altar boy, but the man that made a weapon and cleared the temple, who boldly cast out demons and calmed the raging sea." — John Eldredge

Robin Marantz Henig’s quote: "Angels, demons, spirits, wizards, gods, and witches have peppered folk religions since mankind first started telling stories." | Image: AmoDays

"My dad was a great man, and I loved him, but he had some demons he fought. It was tough to see some of those things as a kid, but I believe God doesn't save you from things; he saves you through them." — Dabo Swinney

"It turns out that the left temporal lobe, if there's a lesion there, will create hyper-religiosity. People become super-religious. They see demons and spirits everywhere. We think Joan of Arc may have had it." — Michio Kaku

"Angels, demons, spirits, wizards, gods, and witches have peppered folk religions since mankind first started telling stories." — Robin Marantz Henig

More Demon Quotes

"If I got rid of my demons, I'd lose my angels." ― Tennessee Williams

"Every war has its demons." — Richard Engel

Brom’s quote: "Men who fear demons see demons everywhere." | Image: AmoDays

"What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more' ... Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god, and never have I heard anything more divine." ― Friedrich Nietzsche

"Maybe that's all demons ever are. People like us, doing things without even knowing what we're doing." ― Orson Scott Card

"Culture, like science, is no protection against demons." ― G.K. Chesterton

"Each has its lesson; for our dreams in sooth, come they in shape of demons, gods, or elves, are allegories with deep hearts of truth that tell us solemn secrets of ourselves." — Henry Timro

Darynda Jones’ quote: "I stop fighting my inner demons. We're on the same side now." | Image: AmoDays

"The treachery of demons is nothing compared to the betrayal of an angel." ― Brenna Yovanoff

"Men who fear demons see demons everywhere." ― Brom

"In Venice in the Middle Ages, there was once a profession for a man called a codega: a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets." ― Elizabeth Gilbert

"I stop fighting my inner demons. We're on the same side now." ― Darynda Jones

Chris Rock’s quote: "I have my own demons and dark moods. It's weird." | Image: AmoDays

There are many ways we can begin working, fighting with, or integrating our darker side; therapy is one of them. While going through this process, it is essential to remember that you are not a bad person. It takes immense integrity and bravery to face parts of yourself that have been gnawing on your insides forever.

One beautiful aspect that can come out of this process is creating art, whether in writing, music, painting, or whatever outlet you have; some of the most profound works are sourced from the darkest parts of ourselves.

To continue on your road to self-improvement, read these 50 unbothered quotes to discover inner peace and freedom.