Many extraordinary women have given us words of wisdom—both yesterday and today. Their insights can inspire us, motivate us and encourage us to be better versions of ourselves. Their statements continue to hold power and influence by inspiring us through challenging times, uplifting experiences and everyday moments.
Whether it’s quotes from women leaders, women entrepreneurs, or wise women in general, these powerful words can encourage us to take a stand, forge a path, break the rules, and make a difference in the world.
Read these inspirational quotes by women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates and others to help raise your spirits and encourage you throughout your day.
Famous Quotes by Women Empowering Women
Wise words from women can have a unique effect; by speaking to us from their own experiences, women are empowering other women. These quotes share insight and invite understanding through everyday struggles, momentous achievements, and everything in between.
You may not know Nora Ephron’s name, but you’ll remember quotes she created as a movie writer for such beloved screenplays as You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Harry Met Sally. But her characters weren’t the only ones with words empowering women to be their true selves and find happiness. This section of unique and famous quotes by women can do the same.
- “Be the heroine of your life.” —Nora Ephron
- “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” —Brené Brown
- “As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it.” —Sandra Day O’Connor
- “Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.” —Michelle Obama
- “Fortune does favor the bold and you’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t try.” —Sheryl Sandberg
- “Just be true to yourself, and listen as much as one is able to to other people whose opinions you respect and look up to but in the end it has to come from you.” —Anna Wintour
- “Never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”—Hillary Clinton
- “A voice is a gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech if possible.” —Margaret Atwood
- “When unique voices are united in a common cause, they make history.” —Gloria Steinem
- “Trust yourself. You probably know more than you think you do… Trust that you can learn anything.” —Melinda Gates
Related: 30 Consistency Quotes to Kick-Start Your Future
Need to Know: Anna Wintour is best known as the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, a job she has held since being named to the position in 1988.
Positive Leadership Quotes by Women
Leadership can be a powerful tool—not only to set examples for others, but also to open doors for women to carry on and take ideas even further. Positive quotes by women in leadership can help inspire us all.
Leaders come from many different fields. Whether through entrepreneurship, activism, working in a science-based field, pursuing creative endeavors such as writing or design, or in many other arenas, female leadership comes in many forms. Many women have shown resilience and worked diligently to become respected leaders in their fields. Their determination, hard work and positive attitudes can be infectious and inspiring, as proven in these leadership quotes by women.
- “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall
- “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” —Maya Angelou
- “If it doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough.” —Tory Burch
- “Do not be afraid to make decisions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Choose to be brave, and to keep moving forward.” —Carly Fiorina
- “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves. When they take a hit, they don’t take long to get back up.” —Barbara Corcoran
- “Whatever it is that you think you want to do — and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that — stop making excuses. You can do anything.” —Katia Beauchamp
- “When an idea is right, nothing can stop it.” —Katherine Graham
- “I have two mottos. One is learn something new every day, and the second one is when you’re through changing, you’re through.” —Martha Stewart
- “Don’t feel you’ve got to be perfect all the time. It just holds you back from doing your best because you don’t put yourself into a more stretching situation.” —Jane Fraser
- “You need to be fearless but prepared.” —Julie Sweet
- “Life doesn’t always present you with the perfect opportunity at the perfect time. Opportunities come when you least expect them, or when you’re not ready for them.” —Susan Wojcicki
- “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Related: 30 Inspiring Quotes About Never Giving Up
Need to Know: Katherine Graham was the first-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. As publisher of The Washington Post, she oversaw the newspaper’s coverage of the Watergate scandal.
Inspirational Quotes by Female Celebrities
They’re talented, glamorous and have a unique perspective on what it’s like to move through the world as a woman with all eyes on them. And their experiences continue to inspire us.
Oprah Winfrey, for example, started from humble beginnings to become the world’s first Black female billionaire, inspiring women with her positive words and encouraging them to become their own best selves. Her words, and those of many other women celebrities, can help motivate you toward your own success.
- “There is no time like the present to step into the spotlight of your own life.” —Oprah Winfrey
- “You cannot live in this world and be successful and not have heartaches, troubles, disappointments. It’s how you deal with it.” —Dolly Parton
- “It’s a toxic desire to try to be perfect. I realized later in life that the challenge is not to be perfect. It’s to be whole.” —Jane Fonda
- “You try to live every single day like it’s your last. And you try to be better, to yourself and to others.” —Madonna
- “What sets you apart can feel like a burden. And it’s not… a lot of the time it’s what makes you great.” —Emma Stone
- “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.” —Lady Gaga
- “I don’t regret anything I’ve ever done as long as I enjoyed it at the time.” —Katherine Hepburn
- “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” —Lucille Ball
- “I have paid my dues and followed every rule for decades, so now I can break the rules that need to be broken.” —Beyonce
- “You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.” —Diana Ross
- “If every choice you make comes from an honest place, you’re solid and nothing anybody can say about you can rock you or change your opinion.” —Angelina Jolie
- “You cannot have passion of any kind unless you have compassion.” —Elizabeth Taylor
- “I don’t go by a rule book, because I lead from the heart, not the head.” —Princess Diana
Need to Know: Beyonce has the distinction of winning the most Grammys by any artist in history, including Album of the Year for “Cowboy Carter” at the 2025 Grammys.
Quotes From Notable Women in History
Sometimes inspiration comes from the past. From activists to writers to First Ladies, the following historical voices were not only inspiring during their lifetimes, but equally so in the present day. The next time you need a dose of motivation, browse the following quotes from women throughout history.
- “Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
- “We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.” —Marie Curie
- “You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the procedure. The process is its own reward.” —Amelia Earhart
- “You are extraordinary within your limits, but your limits are extraordinary!” —Gertrude Stein
- “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” —Rosalyn Carter
- “If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman. —Margaret Thatcher
- “I like good, strong words, that mean something.” —Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
- “Courage calls to courage everywhere and its voice cannot be denied.” —Millicent Garrett Fawcett
- “Find ecstasy in living; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” —Emily Dickinson
- “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” —Rosa Parks
- “If we don’t care about our past we can’t have very much hope for our future.” —Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- “Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.” —Florence Nightingale
Related: 30 Empowering Quotes to Celebrate Women’s History Month
Need to Know: Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win it twice. She won her first Nobel Prize in physics in 1903, followed by a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1911.
Strong Women Can Give Inspiration & New Perspectives
Where will you get your inspiration today? Perhaps it’s from the thoughts and perspectives of extraordinary women. The best quotes by women can help motivate you to try something different or view your life from a unique perspective.
Strong, successful women have provided us with incredible insight. Their quotes can uplift and encourage you, both through daily tasks and putting you on the road to success. They can also be thought-provoking and propel you toward new ideas. Highlight your favorites or share a few today to spread the inspiration.
Photo from pavonne/Twenty20
