Inspirational and confidence boosting quotes to to help you stand tall, speak up, and own your worth.
To me, confidence hasn’t always come easy.
Some days I feel like I can take on the world, and other days… not so much.
An effective way that I’ve found to connect with my inner strength is from the words of women who’ve been there before me—women who’ve faced challenges, battled self-doubt, and still chose to rise. Their words remind me that I am not alone, and that confidence is something we can build, one step at a time.
If you’re like me, and you’re having one of those days where you need a little boost, you’ve come to the right place. These confidence quotes for women—spoken by women—are here to cheer you on.
Here are 50 uplifting, confidence-boosting quotes from women who know what it means to keep going—even when it’s hard.
50 Empowering Confidence Quotes For Women
“I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.” — Audre Lorde
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“I’ve learned that confidence is walking into a room and not needing anyone to validate you.” — Unknown
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.” — Louisa May Alcott
“Don’t take too much credit for your children — or too much blame.” — Deborah Tannen
“Speak your mind—even if your voice shakes.” — Maggie Kuhn
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” — Lily Tomlin
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” — Maya Angelou
“I’m tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” — Madonna
“I am my own muse.” — Frida Kahlo
“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
“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” — Tina Fey
“I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.” — Serena Williams
“No one likes feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable and weak. But I really have found that it’s in those moments when I go there that there’s a kind of magic.” — Emma Watson
“You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” — Diane von Furstenberg
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise L. Hay
“It’s tougher to be vulnerable than to be tough.” — Rihanna
“I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world.” — Meryl Streep
“True abundance isn’t based on our net worth, it’s based on our self-worth.” — Gabrielle Bernstein
“Happiness does not come from without, it comes from within.” — Helen Keller
“Just be yourself. There is no one better.” — Taylor Swift
“If there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” — Beyoncé
“You will never overcome your self righteousness if you continue to believe that God prefers you over other people. The moment you feel entitled is the moment you feel superior and distance yourself from a humble heart that believes God knows what he is doing.” — Shannon L. Alder
“You are the designer of your destiny; you are the author of your story.” — Lisa Nichols
“I learned a long time ago that there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.” — Mia Hamm
“Keep trying and never give up. The dream may seem difficult to reach at some point but never let go of your dream. You will be amazed by what you can accomplish when you stay determined.” — Lailah Gifty Akita
“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it.” — Anna Taylor
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” — Helen Keller
“In the midst of our struggle to find out who we are, there are infinite possibilities for beauty, and hope, and wonder, and love.” — Mandy Hale
“It’s your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don’t take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.” — Betty White
“Dealing with the source of any self-esteem issues is critical to challenging the way you value yourself and speak to yourself.” — Rachel Robins
“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” — Coco Chanel
“If you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything.” — Katy Perry
“It is important to remind yourself that this is not a race. Do what you can today. You will get where you are going. Progress happens in layers.” — Audrey Kitching
“The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence.” — Blake Lively
“The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence.” — Beyoncé
“It’s OKAY to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.” — Mandy Hale
“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.” — Bethany Hamilton
“You must think well of yourself. You must see yourself as worth celebrating, worth loving, worth having.” — Angelina Talpa
“You are more powerful than you know; you are beautiful just as you are.” — Melissa Etheridge
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” — Rosa Parks
“Anyone who makes you feel like you are too much is simply not enough for you.” — Mandy Hale
“You are the best author of your own future. So, the next time you sit down to write your own story, remember that you are the creator of the chapters.” — Catherine Pulsifer
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” — Coco Chanel
“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” — Anne Lamott
“Worthiness doesn’t have prerequisites.” — Brené Brown
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” — Oprah Winfrey
“You can’t always control the circumstances – only how you react to those circumstances; you can always control your attitude and your effort.” — Jennie Finch
“Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” — Misty Copeland
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
How to Build Confidence (Even If You Don’t Feel It)
I hope these quotes can inspire to feel more confident about yourself and what you do.
Here are some tips and doable steps that can help you build more confidence in your daily life:
- Start small
Confidence is like a muscle that needs growing and nurturing. You can do this by taking action, rather than waiting. Do one small thing each day that challenges you and puts you outside of your comfort zone. - Talk to yourself like a friend
How do you talk to yourself? Is it something you’d say to someone you love? If the answer is no, then it’s time to change the way you speak to yourself. Try softening your inner dialogue, and be more gentle and compassionate with yourself. Remember, your words and thoughts have the power to shape how you show up for yourself. - Celebrate the big and small wins in life
Give yourself credit for everything you do, even if you fail. Show up for yourself during both good times and bad times. - Repeat positive words of affirmation
Create 1-2 mantra for yourself that you could repeat daily to help boost your confidence. It could be statements like “I am worthy and enough,” “I believe in myself,” or “I am feel good in my own skin.” - Let go of perfection
Confidence is not perfection. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Messy action is still action. Keep going even if you can’t see your destination yet. - Surround yourself with support
Be around people who inspire and lift you up in both good times and bad times. - Keep showing up
Confidence doesn’t mean you never doubt yourself. It just means you don’t let the doubt stop you.
Confidence Starts Within
Confidence isn’t a destination—it’s a relationship you build with yourself, day by day.
You might feel shaky or not know where you’re going, and that’s okay. You’re allowed to take up space, ask for what you need, and show up fully as you.
And on the days that feel extra hard, let these words remind you: you’re doing better than you think.
You’ve got this!
