Strong Woman Quotes: 85 Reminders of Your Inner Power
When the world tries to make you small, these words from remarkable women will remind you of the strength you carry within.
Introduction: The Strength You Already Possess
You are stronger than you know.
This is not a platitude. It is not empty encouragement. It is the truth—a truth that gets buried under self-doubt, societal messages, and the daily weight of responsibilities that women carry. Sometimes you need to be reminded of what you already possess.
Strong women have walked before you. They have faced obstacles that seemed insurmountable, endured circumstances that would break most people, and emerged not just surviving but thriving. They have left behind words—hard-won wisdom carved from experience—that can lift you when you forget your own power.
This article gathers eighty-five quotes from strong women and about strong women. These words come from queens and activists, athletes and artists, scientists and survivors, mothers and revolutionaries. They span centuries and continents, backgrounds and beliefs. What unites them is a common truth: women are powerful, and that power deserves to be celebrated and remembered.
These quotes are organized into themes because different moments call for different reminders:
- When you need courage to take a leap
- When you need resilience to keep going
- When you need to remember your worth
- When you need permission to be yourself
- When you need to claim your voice
- When you need inspiration to lead
- When you need strength in vulnerability
Read through them all, or jump to the section that speaks to your current need. Highlight the ones that resonate. Write them down. Post them where you will see them. Let these words become part of your inner dialogue, replacing the voices that diminish you with voices that remind you of your power.
You are a strong woman. These quotes will help you remember it.
Why Women Need These Reminders
Before we explore the eighty-five quotes, let us acknowledge why these reminders matter so much.
The Messages We Absorb
From childhood, women receive messages that undermine confidence and power:
- Be nice, not assertive
- Be pretty, not powerful
- Be accommodating, not ambitious
- Be quiet, not outspoken
- Be small, not bold
These messages accumulate over years, forming an internal voice that questions our capabilities, minimizes our accomplishments, and suggests we should shrink rather than expand.
The Weight Women Carry
Women often carry invisible burdens: emotional labor in relationships, mental load in households, the constant navigation of a world not designed for them. This weight can make strength feel depleted, even when reserves remain deep.
The Power of Words
Words shape reality. The stories we tell ourselves become the lives we live. When we replace limiting narratives with empowering ones, we change not just how we feel but what we do and who we become.
Quotes from strong women serve as pattern interrupts—they break the negative thought loops and offer alternative narratives. They remind us that countless women have faced what we face and have found strength we can find too.
The Lineage of Strength
Reading words from strong women connects us to a lineage. We are not alone in our struggles. We stand on the shoulders of women who fought, persevered, created, and triumphed. Their strength is our inheritance.
Quotes on Courage and Taking Risks (1-15)
These quotes will embolden you to leap into the unknown.
1. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” — Anaïs Nin
2. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
3. “I learned a long time ago that there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.” — Mia Hamm
4. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” — Coco Chanel
5. “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
6. “Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
7. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” — Mary Anne Radmacher
8. “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” — Louisa May Alcott
9. “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” — Madeleine Albright
10. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand
11. “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” — Lucille Ball
12. “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” — Katharine Hepburn
13. “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” — Helen Keller
14. “Whatever you do, be different. That was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur.” — Anita Roddick
15. “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” — Susan Jeffers
Quotes on Resilience and Perseverance (16-30)
These quotes will strengthen you when the road is long and hard.
16. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” — J.K. Rowling
17. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou
18. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” — Maya Angelou
19. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” — Alice Walker
20. “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” — Carl Jung (often attributed to strong women)
21. “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” — Elizabeth Edwards
22. “I was smart enough to go through any door that opened.” — Joan Rivers
23. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Often attributed to women leaders
24. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” — Maya Angelou
25. “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” — Florence Nightingale
26. “When they go low, we go high.” — Michelle Obama
27. “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” — Nora Ephron
28. “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” — Barbara Kingsolver
29. “A woman is like a tea bag—you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
30. “Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever. When all is said and done, you will be increased.” — Joel Osteen (embraced by many strong women)
Quotes on Self-Worth and Confidence (31-45)
These quotes will remind you of your inherent value.
31. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
32. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” — Maya Angelou
33. “I am not afraid; I was born to do this.” — Joan of Arc
34. “Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.” — Beyoncé
35. “I am my best work—a series of road maps, reports, recipes, doodles, and prayers from the front lines.” — Audre Lorde
36. “Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you happy.” — Demi Lovato
37. “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” — Brené Brown
38. “I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong.” — Amy Schumer
39. “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise Hay
40. “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” — Charlotte Brontë
41. “The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence.” — Beyoncé
42. “It’s not your job to like me—it’s mine.” — Byron Katie
43. “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.” — Charlotte Brontë
44. “I am mine before I am ever anyone else’s.” — Nayyirah Waheed
45. “She remembered who she was and the game changed.” — Lalah Delia
Quotes on Authenticity and Being Yourself (46-55)
These quotes will give you permission to be unapologetically you.
46. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — Judy Garland
47. “I’d rather be disliked for who I am than liked for who I’m not.” — Unknown (widely embraced by women)
48. “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” — Marilyn Monroe
49. “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” — Roseanne Barr
50. “I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.” — Rita Mae Brown
51. “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.” — Maya Angelou
52. “I don’t have to be perfect. All I have to do is show up and enjoy the messy, imperfect and beautiful journey of my life.” — Kerry Washington
53. “Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” — Frida Kahlo
54. “I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.” — Tracee Ellis Ross
55. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Often attributed to women leaders
Quotes on Speaking Up and Using Your Voice (56-65)
These quotes will empower you to be heard.
56. “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” — Maggie Kuhn
57. “I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” — Malala Yousafzai
58. “One voice can change a room.” — Barack Obama (embraced by women everywhere)
59. “I’ve never been interested in being invisible and erased.” — Laverne Cox
60. “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” — Hillary Clinton
61. “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” — Madonna
62. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” — Michelle Obama
63. “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman.” — Melinda Gates
64. “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
65. “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.” — Audrey Hepburn
Quotes on Leadership and Power (66-75)
These quotes will inspire you to lead and create change.
66. “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” — Margaret Thatcher
67. “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.” — Beyoncé
68. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” — Sheryl Sandberg
69. “I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
70. “I’m not bossy; I’m the boss.” — Beyoncé
71. “Some women choose to follow men, and some choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.” — Lady Gaga
72. “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” — W.E.B. Du Bois
73. “The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up.” — Serena Williams
74. “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg
75. “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.” — Mary Wollstonecraft
Quotes on Strength Through Vulnerability (76-85)
These quotes will remind you that softness and strength coexist.
76. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” — Brené Brown
77. “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” — Brené Brown
78. “You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman.” — Mary Elizabeth Winstead
79. “Tears are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign that you’ve been strong for too long.” — Unknown
80. “A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection.” — Nancy Rathburn
81. “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly, despite the fear.” — Atticus
82. “The strongest actions for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could.” — Unknown
83. “A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform.” — Diane Mariechild
84. “To me, a strong woman is someone who is confident about who she is, a woman who doesn’t pretend, who is honest with everyone including herself.” — Mila Kunis
85. “Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” — Unknown
How to Use These Quotes in Your Life
Having eighty-five powerful quotes is valuable. Using them transforms their power from potential to actual. Here are ways to make these words work for you.
Create a Personal Power Collection
As you read through these quotes, notice which ones create a physical response—a chill, a straightening of your spine, a catch in your throat. These are your quotes. Collect them:
- Write them in a dedicated journal
- Create a note on your phone
- Make a Pinterest board
- Print and post them around your space
Morning Power Practice
Choose one quote each morning to carry through your day:
- Read it slowly, three times
- Consider what it means for your specific day ahead
- Set it as your phone wallpaper or write it on your hand
- Return to it when challenges arise
Pre-Challenge Preparation
Before difficult situations—meetings, confrontations, presentations, hard conversations—read through power quotes:
- Choose one that speaks to what you need
- Repeat it silently until you feel it
- Let it be your inner companion during the challenge
Share With Other Women
When you see a friend or colleague struggling, share a quote that might help:
- Text it with a simple “thought of you”
- Write it in a card
- Post it where she will see it
- Create a chain of sharing among women you know
Reflective Journaling
Use quotes as journaling prompts:
- Write the quote at the top of a page
- Respond to it: What does this mean to me? When have I embodied this? When have I forgotten it?
- Let the quote unlock deeper self-understanding
Create Quote Art
Turn your favorite quotes into visual reminders:
- Frame printed quotes for your office or home
- Create digital graphics for your devices
- Commission or create art featuring meaningful words
Build a Quote Practice Into Transitions
Use quotes to mark moments of transition:
- New Year: Choose a quote for the year
- Monday mornings: Choose a quote for the week
- Difficult anniversaries: Read quotes for comfort
- Achievements: Celebrate with words that honor your strength
The Women Behind the Words
These quotes did not emerge from easy lives. The women who spoke them faced tremendous obstacles and found strength anyway. Here are brief profiles of some of the voices you have encountered.
Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Poet, memoirist, civil rights activist. Overcame childhood trauma including assault that left her mute for years. Became one of the most influential voices of the 20th century. Her work explores identity, family, and resilience.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
First Lady, diplomat, activist. Overcame a difficult childhood and a painful marriage to become a powerful voice for human rights. Chaired the UN committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Malala Yousafzai (1997-)
Education activist, Nobel laureate. Shot by the Taliban at age 15 for advocating girls’ education. Survived and amplified her advocacy globally. Youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)
Supreme Court Justice, women’s rights pioneer. Faced gender discrimination throughout her career and worked tirelessly to dismantle legal barriers facing women. Known for powerful dissents and resilience.
Brené Brown (1965-)
Research professor, author. Studies vulnerability, courage, and shame. Her TED talk is one of the most viewed ever. Brought research-backed language to emotional experiences.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)
Artist, icon. Survived polio, a devastating accident, and chronic pain. Channeled suffering into art that continues to inspire. Became a symbol of resilience and unapologetic self-expression.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (1977-)
Author, feminist. Her work explores identity, immigration, and feminism. Her essay “We Should All Be Feminists” became a cultural touchstone.
These women—and all the women quoted here—did not become strong by avoiding difficulty. They became strong by facing it. Their words carry the weight of lived experience.
20 More Powerful Quotes for Extra Strength
1. “I’m grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.” — Maya Angelou
2. “A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.” — Unknown
3. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” — Oprah Winfrey
4. “We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” — Kavita Ramdas
5. “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” — Rebecca West
6. “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” — Coco Chanel
7. “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” — Estée Lauder
8. “Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.” — Amelia Earhart
9. “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” — Amelia Earhart
10. “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” — Maya Angelou
11. “I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance.” — Bell Hooks
12. “I have come to realize making yourself happy is most important. Never be ashamed of how you feel.” — Unknown
13. “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” — Proverbs 31:25
14. “The world needs strong women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved.” — Amy Tenney
15. “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” — Serena Williams
16. “I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values—and follow my own moral compass—then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own.” — Michelle Obama
17. “Doubt is a killer. You just have to know who you are and what you stand for.” — Jennifer Lopez
18. “A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” — Maya Angelou
19. “Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.” — Hillary Clinton
20. “Strong women don’t have attitudes. They have standards.” — Unknown
Picture This
Close your eyes and imagine a moment when you doubted yourself.
Maybe it was before speaking up in a meeting where you were the only woman. Maybe it was before leaving a situation that no longer served you. Maybe it was facing a mirror and seeing only flaws. Maybe it was considering a dream that felt too big for someone like you.
In that moment of doubt, imagine one of these strong women standing beside you. Not to rescue you—you do not need rescuing. But to remind you of what is already within you.
Maya Angelou whispers: “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
Eleanor Roosevelt adds: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Malala stands firm: “I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with quiet intensity: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
And from women throughout history, a chorus rises: “You are stronger than you know. You come from a lineage of strength. We walked so you could run. We fought so you could thrive. We are with you.”
Now imagine carrying these voices with you—not just in moments of doubt, but every day. Imagine their words becoming part of your inner dialogue, replacing the voice that diminishes with voices that remind you of your power.
You are strong. You are capable. You are worthy. You have what it takes.
Not because you are perfect—none of the strong women quoted here were perfect. But because strength is not the absence of fear, doubt, or struggle. Strength is continuing despite them.
You have continued despite them. You are continuing now.
That makes you a strong woman too.
Add your voice to the chorus. Pass your strength to those coming behind you. And when you forget—because you will forget—return to these words and remember:
You are stronger than you know.
Share This Article
Every woman needs reminders of her strength. Share this article to pass that gift along.
Share with a woman facing a challenge. She might need exactly these words today.
Share with young women in your life. Plant seeds of strength that will grow for decades.
Share with women’s groups and communities. Collective strength amplifies individual strength.
Share to honor the strong women who came before. Their words deserve to keep traveling.
When women support women, we all rise.
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Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. It is not intended as professional psychological, medical, or therapeutic advice.
Quotes have been attributed to the best of our knowledge; some attributions may be disputed or uncertain. Some quotes have evolved through oral tradition and may have variations.
If you are struggling with issues related to self-worth, trauma, or mental health, please seek support from a qualified professional in addition to inspirational resources.
The author and publisher make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the information contained herein. By reading this article, you agree that the author and publisher shall not be held liable for any damages, claims, or losses arising from your use of or reliance on this content.
You are strong. You are worthy. You are enough.
