We all need personal space and limits in our relationships. Boundaries help us feel safe and respected. When people step over these boundaries, it can make us feel bad or uncomfortable.
But it can be difficult to maintain if you are a people pleaser or are concerned about how others feel. However, if you want to be your best self, you must prioritize yourself.
When you lack boundaries, other people can easily take advantage of you and even hurt you.
So I’m sharing 105 overstepping boundaries quotes to give you the courage to speak out when someone exceeds our boundaries.
Here we go!
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Best Overstepping Boundaries Quotes
1. “You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.” — Penny Reid
2. “You are not responsible for managing other people’s feelings about your boundaries.” — Unknown
3. “Stop asking why they keep doing it, and start asking why you keep allowing it.” — Unknown
4. “Dignity comes from knowing where you end and others begin—and honoring that line.” — Unknown
5. “Setting a boundary” means protecting your joy and well-being by telling someone to stop a harmful behavior. Practice setting a boundary by saying: “I can’t let you x. I need y.” — Lauren Martin
6. “The way someone responds to your boundaries tells you everything you need to know about them.” — Unknown
7. “If someone throws a fit because you set boundaries, it’s just more evidence the boundary is needed.” — Unknown
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8. “Healthy boundaries are not walls. They are gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden.” — Lydia Hall
9. “Boundary setting helps you prioritize your needs over other people’s wants.” — Lauren Kenson
10. “Setting a boundary is an act of hope—hope that the relationship can continue, just in a healthier way.” — Unknown
11. “When you set personal boundaries, you feel stronger as you act on your boundaries.” — Unknown
12. “You don’t need permission to protect yourself from what doesn’t feel right.” — Unknown
13. “You can be a good person with a kind heart and still say no to people.” — Tracy A. Malone
14. “Saying ‘I’m not OK with this’ is sometimes the bravest thing you can say.” — Unknown
15. “Toxic people will pollute everything around them. Don’t hesitate. Fumigate.” — Mandy Hale
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16. “Honoring your own boundaries is the clearest message to others to honor them, too.” — Gina Greenlee
17. “A life without boundaries is like a house without walls—open to every passerby and harsh weather.” — Unknown
18. “We need to have a talk on the subject of what’s yours and what’s mine.” — Stieg Larsson
19. “It is necessary, and even vital, to set standards for your life and the people you allow in it.” — Mandy Hale
20. “Boundaries are not demands on others—they’re standards for yourself about what you’ll accept.” — Unknown
21. “Boundaries teach the world how to treat you.” — Michelle Obama
22. “Before I had my child, I thought I knew all the boundaries of myself and understood the limits of my heart. It’s extraordinary to have all those limits thrown out, to realise your love is inexhaustible.” — Uma Thurman
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23. “Do not justify, apologize for, or rationalize the healthy boundary you are setting. Do not argue. Just set the boundary calmly, firmly, clearly, and respectfully.” — Crystal Andrus
24. “To me, self-care does not mean going to the spa. It’s learning to say no.” — Tracee Ellis Ross
25. “If someone gets mad at you for creating a boundary, consider that a good sign that the boundary was necessary.” — Jenna Korf
26. “Not everything needs your time, energy, or attention. Boundaries help you save these precious resources for what truly matters.” — Unknown
27. “When someone oversteps your boundaries, they’re letting you know that what you want doesn’t matter.” — Phil Good
28. “People know how to treat you based on what you’ve taught them. Teach them well with clear boundaries.” — Unknown
29. “When you set a boundary, you’re telling yourself that you matter. That voice needs to be louder than any other.” — Unknown
30. “Sometimes people overstep your boundaries because they’re unaware, but if you’ve told them what you need and they ignore it, that’s a clear sign of how little they value you.” — Unknown
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31. “There’s a big difference between helping and rescuing. Boundaries help you see that line clearly.” — Unknown
32. “The only person who should feel uncomfortable about your boundaries is the person trying to cross them.” — Unknown
33. “Breaking your boundaries to make someone else happy makes two people unhappy in the end.” — Unknown
34. “You’re not responsible for how they feel about your boundaries.” — Unknown
35. “People may forget what you said, but they remember how you let them treat you.” — Unknown
36. “Personal boundaries: if you say something about yourself that makes you feel good, and someone doesn’t like it, that’s their problem. Don’t let people question who you are.” — Jennifer Ryan
37. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard M. Baruch
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38. “When trying to teach someone a boundary, they learn less from the enforcement of the boundary and more from the way the boundary was established.” — Bryant H. McGill
39. “You don’t have to feel bad when you say “No.” — John Manuel J. Smith
40. “Create boundaries. Honor your limits. Say no. Take a break. Let go. Stay grounded. Nurture your body. Love your vulnerability. And if all else fails, breathe deeply.” — Aletheia Luna
41. “Two people with healthy boundaries have a better chance at love than two people with none.” — Unknown
42. “Sometimes you have to let people know that you’re not holding a grudge; you’re holding on to boundaries.” — Unknown
43. “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say “No” to almost everything.” — Warren Buffett
44. “The less you value yourself, the fuzzier your boundaries. The more you value yourself, the clearer they become.” — Unknown
45. “Love yourself enough to lay down rules.” We value your time and energy. You decide how to use it. People learn how to treat you based on what you accept and don’t accept.” — Lucy Taylor
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46. “Walls keep everybody out. Boundaries teach them where the door is.” — Mark Groves
47. “People set limits to feel safe, respected, and heard.” — Pam Cummins
48. “You best teach others about healthy boundaries by enforcing yours.” — Bryant McGill
49. “You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.” — Unknown
50. “The only people who are upset when you set limits are the ones who liked it when you didn’t have any.” — Unknown
51. “Not everyone will like your boundaries. That’s OK. They’re not for everyone to like; they’re for you to keep safe.” — Unknown
52. “Evaluate the people in your life. It’s time to promote, demote, or terminate. You are the CEO of your life.” — Tony Gaskins
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53. “I get stressed out every time I have to set a limit.” But I do it for the same reason. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been making blanket forts. To give myself a safe place.” — N. Hoffman
54. “The quieter you’ve been, the louder the reaction when you finally set boundaries. Set them anyway.” — Unknown
55. “Your personal boundaries protect the inner core of your identity and your right to choices.” — Gerard Manley Hopkins
56. “Time and attention are precious. Where and with whom you spend them are your most basic boundaries.” — Unknown
57. “Setting limits with other people should feel really wrong if it does for you.” In any case, stay loyal. The next day it will feel different.” — Jody Lamb
58. “Guilt is the alarm that often sounds when a boundary is needed but not yet set.” — Unknown
59. “The size of your happiness is often equal to the strength of your boundaries.” — Unknown
60. “Don’t ask them why they keep doing it; ask yourself why you let them.” — Unknown
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61. “People who cross your boundaries are telling you that what you want doesn’t matter.” — Good Phil
62. “Breaking someone’s boundaries to prove your love will only prove you don’t understand what love is.” — Unknown
63. “Be honest about who you are, what you want, and how you’d like to be handled. Boundaries keep people out who weren’t meant to be in your life.” —David L. Alder
64. “The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none.” — Unknown
65. “The clearer your boundaries, the clearer your relationships. Blurry lines lead to messy feelings.” — Unknown
66.”Boundaries and risk management are very important parts of living a healthy and positive life.” — Bryant McGill
67. “To me, there is no creativity without boundaries. If you’re gonna write a sonnet, it’s 14 lines, so it’s solving the problem within the container.” — Lorne Michaels
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68. “Honor yourself enough to leave people, places, and situations where they see it as their job to take away your power. People don’t deserve to be around you if they can’t accept who you are.” — Alves Ash
69. “Families living in dysfunction seldom have healthy boundaries. Dysfunctional families have trouble knowing where they stop and others begin.” — David W. Earle
70. “The people worth keeping in your life are those who never make you choose between their comfort and your boundaries.” — Unknown
71. “Your ‘no’ is a complete sentence. It needs no defense, no explanation, and no apology.” — Unknown
72. “Boundaries represent awareness, knowing what the limits are and then respecting those limits.” — David W. Earle
73. “Good fences make good neighbors. Good boundaries make good relationships.” — Unknown
74. “You are responsible for weighing the pros and cons of any connection. You don’t have to take what is given to you without question. You get to pick.” — Deborah E. Day
75. “Your boundaries are essentially the imagery line that separates you from others, and it’s specifically your feelings, your needs, and your personal reality.” — Thais Gibson
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76. “The more you value yourself, the healthier your boundaries are.” — Lorraine Nilon
77. “People who violate your boundaries are thieves. They steal time that doesn’t belong to them.” — Elizabeth Grace Saunders
78. “The moment someone makes you feel guilty for having boundaries is the moment they confirm why you need them.” — Unknown
79. “If someone loves me, they’ll get why I need boundaries and be happy for me.” — Lucy Bekker
80. “When you notice someone does something toxic the first time, don’t wait for the second time before you address it or cut them off.” — Shahida Arabi
81. “Your need for space is not less important than someone else’s need for closeness.” — Unknown
82. “When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.” — Brene Brown
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83. “The kindest thing you can do is be honest about your boundaries. Pretending to be OK with what hurts you helps no one.” — Unknown
84. “I’m not always clear about my limits.” I hope that I can help other people set better limits for themselves.” — Amy Schumer
85. “Givers need to set limits because takers rarely do.” — Rachel Wolchin
86. “People who respect your ‘no’ are the ones who deserve your ‘yes.'” — Unknown
87. “Speak in your own voice about the things that matter to you.” — Marty Rubin
88. “The loudest complaints about your boundaries often come from those who used your silence to stay comfortable.” — Unknown
89. “Every time you hold a boundary, you build self-trust. Every time you break one, you break trust with yourself.” — Unknown
90. “Having firm boundaries doesn’t make you mean. It shows you know your own worth.” — Unknown
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91. “A broken soul doesn’t invest in boundaries because the world has crossed them, without mercy.” — Shannon L. Alder
92. “No” is my power word. That’s when you know how much you’re worth. For me, that’s power.” — Taraji P. Henson
93. “When you let someone cross your boundaries again and again, you’re not being kind—you’re teaching them to disrespect you.” — Unknown
94. “You need to be able to set limits if you want to do well and thrive.” — Oprah Winfrey
95. “Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recognition of personal space.” — Asa Don Brown
96. “When you tell someone your limits and they keep crossing them, you see who they really are. Actions speak louder than words.” — Unknown
97. “I encourage people to remember that “No” is a complete sentence.” — Gavin de Becker
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98. “There’s a clear line between caring and controlling. Real love gives you room to breathe, not watch your every move.” — Unknown
99. “As a form of self-care, stop letting people disrespect your right to say no and set limits.” — Tasha Lee McCray
100. “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” — Brené Brown
101. “Your needs are not up for debate. Your boundaries are not open to negotiation.” — Unknown
102. “Boundaries aren’t all bad. That’s why there are walls around mental institutions.” — Petty Noonan
103. “Each time you uphold a boundary, you tell yourself a powerful truth: ‘I matter.'” — Unknown
104. “You say ‘yes’ to more freedom every time you set a healthy limit.” — Nancy L.
105. “When you’re clear about your boundaries, you give others the gift of clarity too.” — Unknown
Final Thoughts
I hope these overstepping boundaries quotes remind you of the vital role of boundaries in all relationships.
When someone is overstepping limits, take a step back and remind yourself of proper behavior before proceeding. There is a narrow line between showing interest in someone and making them feel uncomfortable. It’s vital to remember this because there are numerous ways to mistakenly cross the line.
Now it’s your turn, tell me in the comment section below which one is your favorite, and if you have a favorite quote, please let me know; I’d love to include it in the list above.
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