14 Short Depression Quotes From Famous Authors

What is depression?

There are various types of depression, from major depressive disorder to perinatal depression to seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms of each can vary and may range from mild to more serious depression. That said, key signifiers of when depression hits can include a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, a persistent sense of feeling sad or having a low mood, fatigue and lethargy, hopelessness and loneliness, social isolation and loneliness even in a huge crowd, and significant changes in eating or sleeping patterns. The mental pain of being persistently, clinically depressed and sad hurts and can lead to distress, trouble functioning, decreased well-being overall, and suicidal thoughts, among other symptoms.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. Support is available 24/7.

As C.S. Lewis put it: “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken.’” However, unlike a head cold, as Barbara Kingsolver points out in a quote below, depression doesn’t typically resolve on its own. In order to find ways to manage or alleviate symptoms and induce healthy feelings, seeking professional support is typically required. The point of treating depression is usually to improve quality of life and well-being. We’ll explore helpful depression resources at the end of this article.

14 depression quotes that could help you feel less alone

From Kate Chopin to C.S. Lewis, many renowned writers and thinkers throughout history have also experienced depression and other mental illnesses and have left behind a rich legacy of poetry, fiction, and other writings on the topic. The poignancy with which these authors describe the symptoms of depression and mental illness may help you feel less alone in your experience. Below are 14 quotes about depression by famous authors and other well-known public figures. 

1. “Depression is melancholy minus its charms.” –Susan Sontag

2. "You don't think in depression that you've put on a gray veil and are seeing the world through the haze of a bad mood. You think that the veil has been taken away, the veil of happiness, and that now you're seeing truly." –Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon

3. "I was okay just a moment ago. I will learn how to be okay again." –Nina LaCour, We Are Okay

4. "You see, I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad things that happened to me." –F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

5. “A big part of depression is feeling really lonely, even if you're in a room full of a million people.” –Lilly Singh

6. "I hope to one day see a sea of people all wearing silver ribbons as a sign that they understand the secret battle and as a celebration of the victories made each day as we individually pull ourselves up out of our foxholes to see our scars heal and to remember what the sun looks like." –Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

7. “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: It is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken.’” –C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

8. "Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is." –Atticus, Love Her Wild

9. “I need one of those long hugs where you kinda forget whatever else is happening around you for a minute.” –Marilyn Monroe

10. "There were days when she was unhappy; she did not know why, when it did not seem worthwhile to be glad or sorry, to be alive or dead; when life appeared to her like a grotesque pandemonium and humanity like worms struggling blindly toward inevitable annihilation." –Kate Chopin, The Awakening

11. "I bear the dungeon within me; within me is winter, ice, and despair; I have darkness in my soul." –Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

12. “There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, 'There now, hang on, you'll get over it.' Sadness is more or less like a head cold—with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.” –Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees

13.  “It is very hard to explain to people who have never known serious depression or anxiety the sheer continuous intensity of it. There is no off switch.” –Matt Haig

14. "I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" –Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country

Support options for depression symptoms

One of the potentially frustrating hallmarks of depression is that it might seem that the rest of the world is happy and that you're the only person experiencing these symptoms. However, the words of these poets, writers, thinkers, and others can offer a rebuttal to such thoughts, providing a sense of solidarity and comfort. That said, quotes aren't meant to be a replacement for professional support. If you're living with depression, seeking treatment can be vital.  

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common, straightforward response to the answer of how best to treat depression. It’s one of the most popular methods of addressing various mental illnesses, as a robust body of research suggests its effectiveness. It may be recommended with or without medication. In CBT sessions, your therapist may help you identify and shift any distorted thoughts that may arise as a result of depression. They can also equip you with healthy coping mechanisms for your symptoms. 

If you face barriers to receiving in-person CBT or other forms of therapy, you might consider online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. Since the fatigue and low mood often associated with depression can make it difficult to leave the house to attend in-person appointments, attending sessions remotely may be more feasible in many cases. With online therapy, you can speak with a licensed therapist remotely from the comfort of home. Research suggests that online talk therapy may be even more effective for treating depression than in-person treatment in some cases.