15 Things People Say To Sound Deep (But Are Actually Meaningless)

Do you ever see inspiring quotes on social media and immediately send them to your friends? While it’s a nice thought, those quotes aren’t always the wisest things to tell someone going through a difficult time. Why? Well, even though they may seem profound, a lot of them lack substance. Here are 15 things people say to sound deep and wise but don’t have any meaning.

1. “Time heals all wounds.”

This clichéd phrase is so overused. Telling someone that “time heals all wounds” doesn’t give them anything substantive to help them deal with their stressful situation. It fails to acknowledge the complexity of the healing process, which varies greatly from one person to the next. For some people, wounds do heal with time, but for others, they can deepen or intensify. The bottom line: It’s what someone does in that time that matters, not how much time has passed.

2. “It’s darkest just before dawn.”

This phrase conveys the idea that things can seem bleak before a breakthrough happens. Although it’s meant to offer others hope, it can come across as insincere and unrealistic. The truth is, that positive change doesn’t always follow immediately after a period of hardship. Someone might have to navigate multiple challenges or setbacks before things start to improve, making this phrase not so helpful.

3. “Life is what you make it.”

Telling someone “Life is what you make it” might sound inspiring, but it’s really not. People aren’t always responsible for their circumstances, so hearing this phrase can make them feel worse about their failures and mistakes. It’s also tough for someone in a difficult or dark situation to figure out how to make their life better and this phrase comes across as lacking empathy.

4. “Love conquers all.”

Although love is powerful, it’s not always the solution to people’s problems. When someone says, “Don’t worry, love will conquer all,” this ignores the complex issues they could be dealing with. Promising that love will conquer all can create unrealistic expectations, leading to disappointment when reality doesn’t align with your idealized notion. Honestly, this phrase feels like the type of thing someone would say when they don’t have practical or wise advice to give someone.

5. “Everyone dies, it’s part of life.”

Although the person saying this clichéd phrase might be trying to offer comfort, like if someone’s experienced a loss in life, it comes across as too simple. It fails to acknowledge the profound grief, fear, and existential concerns people might feel when they’re confronted with mortality. Telling someone that death is a part of life can feel like a throwaway comment instead of a genuine attempt to engage with the topic in a meaningful way.

6. “The universe will give you what you need.”

Telling someone they should rely on the universe or a higher power to give them everything they need can be frustrating. It implies they’re just coasting along in life, waiting for things to fall into their lap, which isn’t helpful. If someone hears this phrase after they’ve failed at achieving a goal or feel helpless about how they can change their circumstances, it may make them feel even worse about how to proceed in life.

7. “Have faith!”

Hearing that you should “have faith” when you’re feeling uncertain or stressed out, isn’t uplifting. The concept of faith often has a religious or spiritual connotation, implying trust in a higher power or divine intervention. Since not everyone shares these beliefs, the phrase can feel irrelevant. Telling someone to “have faith” can also feel like you’re dismissing their doubts and concerns, which is insulting.

8. “Find your inner light.”

Someone might feel like they’re being positive when telling others to “Find their inner light,” but this isn’t always the case. Although the phrase sounds poetic, it lacks substance. It doesn’t offer any profound insights into the human condition or provide any practical advice that people can use to feel more optimistic. In addition, one’s inner light could refer to different things for different people, making this phrase vague and meaningless.

9. “Everything happens for a reason.”

Sure, maybe everything does happen for a reason. But when someone tells you this when your car gets stolen, your partner dumps you out of the blue, or you lose your job, it’s not helpful. Instead of making you feel more positive about your life, it can make you feel worse! This phrase implies a fatalistic worldview, suggesting that events are predetermined. It can be disempowering to someone who struggles to make sense of their circumstances and take control of their lives.

10. “We are the universe experiencing itself.”

When someone tells you this, they’re trying hard to sound philosophical by emphasizing the interconnectedness of people. But honestly? It’s a ridiculous phrase! For starters, what does it actually mean? Unless you have a philosophy degree, it can come off as nothing. It’s also open to interpretation. You can’t relate to it in practical terms, making it fall flat when trying to be relevant or inspiring.

11. “You should raise your vibration.”

The concept of raising one’s vibration usually refers to being more positive, but it sounds too abstract and vague. This makes it difficult for someone to understand what they’re supposed to do to achieve a higher vibration and how it can help them. It’s super-confusing instead of meaningful and specific to one’s situation. This “deep” phrase can also be dismissive of the person’s real challenges or struggles. After all, optimism doesn’t solve everything.

12. “The universe works in mysterious ways.”

It might sound philosophical to tell someone that the universe or God works in mysterious ways, and that might be true. But, it’s not helpful when someone is in the middle of a stressful day. They probably don’t want to focus on the mystery of life right now when things feel so confusing already. Instead, they’d prefer tangible and practical solutions, or at least someone to try to understand what they’re going through!

13. “Sending positive vibes your way.”

When someone doesn’t know what to say to help you through a difficult situation, they might say they’re sending light or positive vibes your way. It’s a nice thought, but let’s be real: it’s not very helpful! It usually feels insincere and insignificant. They might as well tell you that they’re sending you air. For it to be deep and meaningful, a phrase should include genuine empathy or practical assistance.

14. “You’re stronger than you think.”

While you might know you’re strong and resilient, it’s not always easy to feel that. When life throws you a massive curveball that makes you spin, you’re probably going to feel weak and vulnerable for a while. And that’s okay. It’s more powerful to remember that you’ll handle it and grow from the experience, instead of trying to force yourself to be strong.

15. “Just don’t think about what’s bothering you.”

While someone might have good intentions to help you clear your mind and de-stress, this phrase isn’t helpful. It’s impossible to clear your mind when you’re anxious and worried about something. Trying to sound deep by telling you to clear your mind backfires, and it seems like the person is dismissing your mental health struggle, which is so frustrating!

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