This is a good sign, having a broken heart… it means we’ve actually lived, that we dared to love something deeply. It’s a mark of courage, not failure.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote reframes heartbreak. It’s not a sign of defeat; it’s proof of engagement. It’s evidence that you showed up for life and cared deeply about something.
Explanation
Look, we’ve all been there. The gut-wrenching pain of a broken heart feels like a total failure. But what Gilbert is getting at—and this is something I’ve seen time and again in my work—is that you can’t get a broken heart from playing it safe. You only get one by putting your chips on the table. By loving someone, by chasing a big dream, by investing yourself fully in an idea. The pain is the direct result of your own courage. So when you feel it, don’t see it as a wound. See it as a receipt. A confirmation that you tried. Most people go their whole lives without collecting many of those.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Emotion (177) |
| Topics | courage (145), resilience (106) |
| Literary Style | philosophical (434), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | hopeful (357) |
| Overall Quote Score | 85 (305) |
Origin & Factcheck
This line comes straight from Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. It was written in the United States and captures her mindset after her painful divorce, which was the catalyst for her entire journey. You sometimes see it floating around unattributed, but it’s definitively hers.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Elizabeth Gilbert (39) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (39) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Elizabeth Gilbert writes with clarity and heart about creativity, love, and self-discovery. After starting in magazines like GQ and The New York Times Magazine, she published Pilgrims, then broke out with Eat Pray Love, followed by Committed, The Signature of All Things, Big Magic, and City of Girls. Her 2009 TED Talk on creativity went viral and continues to inspire makers worldwide. She splits time between writing, speaking, and mentoring creative communities. For a full view of her work, see the
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2006; ISBN: 978-0-670-03471-0; Last edition: Penguin Books, 2010; Number of pages: 334. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 66, Indonesia section, Approximate page 252 from 2010 edition |