10 people share the ‘single sentence’ that shook them and stayed with them for years

Some words stay with you for years — they can be something you hear in passing, advice from someone you trust, or a sentence shared in a moment you’ll never forget. No matter where they come from, they leave an impression that resurfaces again and again.

In a Reddit thread that received 6,000 upvotes and 3800 comments, u/ToeKnown9863 asked a question that struck a chord with people from all walks of life: “What’s a single sentence someone said that stuck with you forever?” The post became a space where users shared moments that have stayed in their minds long after they were spoken. The answers came from all kinds of situations — from everyday conversations to life-changing experiences — and each one carried its own weight.

 Here are 10 of the most unforgettable replies:

1. "He’s not there"

"'He’s not there.' My husband said this to me gently when I couldn’t leave my father’s casket. I will always remember that he’s not there, he’s in my heart and will be forever." – u/KatMagic1977

2. "No, you don’t understand"

"'No, you don’t understand.' I was a pre-med college student and volunteered at a hospital. A chronically ill patient was telling me about their pain, and reflexively, I said, 'I understand.' He said, 'No, you really don’t.' That struck me, and I’ve never said it again in all 10 years I’ve been in medicine. Now I say, 'I really can’t understand, but I want to help as best I can.'" – u/wherewemakeourstand

3. "Tough days ahead"

"When my dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness, everyone just kept saying everything would be okay. I had a customer at the time say during an online sale, when we were chatting: 'Tough days ahead.' It was so simple, but he was the only person who was honest with me. Everyone else was lying or trying to protect my feelings." – u/areweintheclearyet_

4. "The goal isn’t to get through it"

"When my son died, many people would say, 'You’ll get through this' or 'time will heal you.' But it’s not something you can just get past. A wise person told me that ‘the goal isn’t to get through it, but to learn how to carry it with you for the rest of your life.’ That’s when the real healing began for me." – u/sideshowmario

5. "Expect everyone to do something stupid"

"When I was learning how to drive some 35 years ago, an adult friend told me the most important thing was, 'Always expect everyone else to do something stupid.' True to this day. Never forgot it." – u/Mopper300

6. "The opposite of love is not hate"

"'The opposite of love is not hate but to be ignored.' This will sit with me forever." – u/Familiar_Accident_73

7. "I wish you didn’t have to work so much"

"'I wish you didn’t have to work so much' — my mom’s last coherent words to me as I was having to rush downstairs to work in the ER." – u/TheUnknown285

8. "People will start to get angry"

"I had a therapist tell me once, 'When you start to get healthy, people will start to get angry.' Mind-blowing truth right there! The minute I started setting healthy boundaries in my life, the worst offenders — my family — got madddddd! But my life is better for it, so thank you, Rhonda!" – u/DifferentMethod8090

9. "Worth every single tear"

"When someone close passed away, instead of the usual stuff like, 'They are in a better place now,' someone said: 'They are worth every single tear.'" – u/AnteaterExisting5918

10. "I'm not afraid"

My mom has Alzheimer’s, and right before she lost the ability to speak, she said with complete lucidity one day, 'You know, I’m not sure what’s going to happen but I’m not afraid.' I think about this every day. – u/bittyveg

The phrases are varying and different, but carry hope as the central fuel for survival. For some, it was a phrase that offered clarity at the right time. For others, it was a moment that made them stop and think of something in a completely new way. The thread became a collection of words that have shaped perspectives, offered comfort, or stayed tucked away until they were needed most. Discover more for yourself: Here.