HIMYM: 20 Ted Mosby Quotes We Can All Relate To

Although How I Met Your Mother has come to an end, fans are still watching and rewatching it over and over again. Most probably have their favorite characters, and some might even live by Barney’s playbook, Marshall’s activism, or Robin’s independence.

However, most can probably agree that Ted drops some pretty incredible one-liners, and they are likely to make audiences laugh, make them cry, or make them rethink their entire life.

Updated on February 26th, 2022, by Rhys McGinley: Ted Mosby may go down as one of the most unlikeable main protagonists in a popular sitcom, but he is still the central character of How I Met Your Mother and one that has some great moments and a couple of the best How I Met Your Mother quotes. While Ted has some really negative traits, he often provides some of the most relatable quotes in How I Met Your Mother. From tidbits about love and friendship to complaints and wisdom about life in general, there are many relatable Ted Mosby quotes.

When He Talks About The Inevitability Of Aging

“We’re going to get older whether we like it or not, so the only question is whether we get on with our lives or desperately cling to the past.”

How I Met Your Mother does not shy away from the harsh realities of getting older, and this quote from Ted is one of many that fans can relate to speaking on that subject.

Getting older and the constant changes of life forces people into the choice of either welcoming it, embracing the change and growth, or clinging on to a previous life that, while good, is just a memory.

Everybody Has Those Days

“Something Is Seriously Wrong With Me.”

Not all of Ted’s more relatable How I Met Your Mother quotes are pieces of wisdom or lessons about life, rather just statements that everybody has felt about themselves at one point or another.

Whether it be following mistakes or wrong choices or even just something as superficial as a hangover, everybody has thought this about themself, believing there is something inherently wrong with them, either genuinely or in a kind of regretful yet temporary way.

When He Talks About Growing Up & Losing Touch

“And that’s how it goes, kids. The friends, neighbors, drinking buddies, and partners in crime you love so much when you’re young, as the years go by, you just lose touch.”

Particularly in the final season, How I Met Your Mother deals a lot with individuals losing touch with people who were, at a point, a daily fixture in their lives. It is a heartbreaking, harsh reality about getting older.

It is a tough pill to swallow, but Ted is speaking the truth. Take the gang, for example, they all love each other; they are family, but going into their thirties and building lives for themselves, they do not see or talk to each other daily, they adore one another but drift apart, and that is something everyone experiences at some point.

When He Talks About The Necessity Of Mistakes

“Here’s the thing about mistakes: Sometimes, even when you know something’s a mistake, you gotta make it anyway.”

Every character, including Ted, in How I Met Your Mother, makes a slew of mistakes in their lives, ranging from small, day-to-day instances to mistakes that change the dynamics of relationships. Everyone can relate to doing this.

What Ted says here is a way of looking at mistakes that everyone either does or should take up. Mistakes help shape people as they learn from them. Mistakes sometimes need to be made, even against the better internal judgment of the individual, they are necessary.

What To Do With Anger

“You may think your only choices are to swallow your anger or throw it in someone’s face, but there’s a third option: You can just let it go, and only when you do that is it really gone, and you can move forward.”

No matter how good or nice or calm of a person someone is, everybody gets angry, it is a natural emotion in life, and this Ted Mosby quote presents three different ways of dealing with it throughout an individual’s life.

Of course, Ted is saying that the right choice for all parties is to let it go so the individual can move forward. However, everyone has experienced the first two choices, too, a big part of growing up is being able to let go of that anger and find more inner peace no matter what situation arose to inspire that initial anger.

When He Speaks On The Time To Heal From A Breakup

“Everyone has an opinion on how long it takes to recover from a breakup.”

Ted has been through several relationships during How I Met Your Mother, and most of them do end in heartbreak. Ted is a sensitive romantic and typically throws himself wholeheartedly into a relationship, which is something a lot of people can relate to when he says this quote.

Sometimes people are able to bounce back after a breakup, and sometimes people need longer to recover after a bad breakup, and it’s a relatable and straightforward quote from Ted.

When He Talks About Letting Go Of The Past

“You can’t cling to the past because no matter how tightly you hold on, it’s already gone.”

Wanting to hold onto the past and constantly live in a state of nostalgia for better times is a universally relatable feeling. Ted sums up that feeling and how it can get someone in trouble with this quote.

He says that there’s no way to actually go back to the past, no matter how hard some people would want to, it’s okay to look back fondly, but there’s no way to go back in time.

Sometimes It’s About The Journey, Not The Destination

“Sometimes, even if you know how something’s gonna end, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.”

Ted, like anyone, goes through some difficult life moments throughout the show, and yet he tries to look on the bright side and stay optimistic.

Most of the characters in How I Met Your Mother don’t have their lives fully planned out, which is relatable and common, and Ted is no different. Even if he knows that something might not work out perfectly, he’s not afraid to try it and enjoy himself in the moment.

When He Speaks About Waiting For The Right Person

“Shouldn’t we hold out for the person who doesn’t just tolerate our little quirks but actually kinda likes them?

No one is perfect, and Ted is no different. Ted has his annoying quirks just like everyone else does, but he brings up a good point with this quote.

Some quirks might be incredibly annoying to some but endearing and lovable to others, and it’s a good plan to try to find a partner, even if it takes some time, who actually enjoys their quirks instead of someone who hates them.

When He Tells His Kids A Harsh Reality About Growing Up

“You will be shocked, kids when you discover how easy it is in life to part ways with people forever. That’s why, when you find someone you want to keep around, you do something about it.”

The older people get, the easier it is to lose people in their life just through the everyday priorities of adulthood, and Ted sums up this sentiment perfectly with this line.

With this quote, Ted says that it takes time and effort to maintain a friendship or relationship, and when people get older, it’s even more important to make time for those in their life that they care about.

When He Speaks About Fear Being Good

“If you’re not scared, then you’re not taking a chance. And if you’re not taking a chance, then what the hell are you doing anyway?”

Ted is surprisingly one of the most spontaneous characters on the show. He’s especially pretty unpredictable when it comes to romance, and he definitely takes chances, and this quote sums up that side of his personality.

However, this piece of wisdom probably all had many fans nodding in agreement. Most people can relate to being afraid of taking a chance, but Ted proves to audiences that they should always be scared, and they should always be taking risks.

Everybody Loves Ryan Gosling In ‘The Notebook’

“Just like Ryan Gosling in ‘The Notebook.’ It was pretty manly ’til I mentioned Ryan Gosling in ‘The Notebook,’ huh?”

This is a hilarious and relatable quote. Regardless of taste or background, many people just love The Notebook, and most people definitely have a bit of a crush on Ryan Gosling.

Unfortunately, The Notebook has a bad reputation as being a clichéd rom-com even though it’s a perfectly enjoyable movie, and men, in particular, are made fun of for liking it.

When He Talks About Signs From The Universe

“You can ask the universe for signs all you want, but ultimately we’ll only see what we want to see when we’re ready to see it.”

Ted is cliché, and while this is one of those times, this quote still resonates pretty deeply with the audience. Ted is always waiting for signs, and it’s easy for everyone to do the same.

However, most people need to realize that they might need to wait and be open to the life around them, and this is some sound advice from Ted. As the audience gets older, they can definitely relate to the wisdom behind this statement.

The Golden 2:00 am Rule

“Nothing good happens after 2:00 am when 2:00 am rolls around, just go home and go to sleep.”

This is definitely some good advice. In fact, the audience all probably laughed and thought about how absolutely true this statement really is.

It’s some good advice that Barney probably doesn’t heed, but Ted is most likely at home in bed asleep by 2 am because nothing good happens to him that early in the morning.

Steer Into The Skid

“The more you fight it, the worse it’s gonna get. It’s like when your car slides on ice, you steer into the skid.”

Most know how terrible it is to slide on ice and how it takes every ounce of energy to fight against instincts and steer into the skid.

Most can relate to that sentiment and the analogy that Ted introduces in this quote that takes this common relatable feeling and apply it to feelings and emotions in life. Ted is a prime example of advocating for everyone to share how they truly feel, and it’s an important lesson, one of many that How I Met Your Mother teaches audiences.

No More Neverland

“Sorry, Peter. We’re grown-ups now; we can’t fly to Neverland with you anymore.”

This one is simultaneously funny, depressing, and totally relatable. While most wish they could fly to Neverland with Peter Pan and Wendy, everyone knows that adulthood doesn’t have time for that and everyone has to grow up at some point.

While everyone can relate to growing up and leaving the fantasy behind, hopefully, there’s still room for everyone to keep a bit of magic in their lives.

Who Hasn’t Shame Eaten A Whole Pizza?

“I wound up shame-eating the whole pizza. I woke up all greasy and sweaty. My sheets looked like what they wrap deli sandwiches in. Maybe I should join a gym. Do you go to a gym?”

This is probably the most relatable Ted Mosby line and arguably one of the best and most hilarious Ted Mosby quotes. Ted has a lot of wisdom about life and love, but he’s also totally like everyone when it comes to feeling down, lazy, and tired.

Most have questioned whether they should try to live a healthier lifestyle and go to the gym, and most have been in the vicious cycle of shame that might include stress eating. It’s certainly a relatable Ted quote.

Time Heals A Broken Heart

“Because when baseball, strippers, and guns can’t help, the only thing that can really heal a broken heart is time.”

Ted pretty much destroys Barney’s entire bro philosophy with this How I Met Your Mother quote, but fans know that he’s totally and completely right.

At the end of the day, everyone knows that time is the only healer, no matter how hard a person may try to fix things earlier, time truly does help.

When He Talks About True Geniuses

“People make fun of the guy who stays home every night doing nothing, but the truth is that guy is a genius.”

Ted provides fans with an ultimate relatable quote for anyone who prefers to stay at home. Anyone who has ever turned down a night out to lounge on the couch and binge Netflix and eat popcorn can relate wholeheartedly to this statement.

Ted doesn’t always say no to a night out with his friends, but it is a relatable quote as the group gets older that he just prefers to stay in.

When He Speaks Passionately About Love

“Love doesn’t make sense! You can’t logic your way into or out of it. Love is totally nonsensical. But we have to keep doing it, or else we’re lost, and love is dead, and humanity should just pack it in. Because love is the best thing, we do.”

Ted is known for his cheesy, romantic, and, at times, corny storylines and quotes, and this line is one of his best quotes that fit into this category.

Most can relate to how much love makes no sense, but fans who love Ted are typically hopeful romantics at heart and love every second of being with the people they love. Love is the best thing people can do.

About The Author

Meah Peers
(631 Articles Published)

I just graduated university with Criminology & Psychology, but have a burning side passion for film! I am an avid reader, writer, and film-goer, and I love learning about movies, actors, directors, and sharing my passion and knowledge with others.
I am a List Writer for ScreenRant, and love being a part of a film community where we all share the same passions.

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