Here are 25 of our favorite quotes from musicians, writers, dancers and leaders—all women.
Musicians, writers, dancers and leaders—all women. Each inspirational in their own right; together, forming a motivational stew, encouraging you to seize life and sprint toward success. Here are 25 of our favorite quotes from these historical figures.
1 of 25
You can start late, look different, be uncertain and still succeed.
—Misty Copeland, The first female African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre
2 of 25
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.
Whenever you are blue or lonely or stricken by some humiliating thing you did, the cure and the hope is in caring about other people.
—Diane Sawyer, Television journalist
9 of 25
Loss is real, parents pass, and hearts break, but the truth is that love never dies, not really. Love lives on through us. Not just in our memories but through our actions and the choices we make. In the way we live our lives we can make a difference.
—Roma Downey, actress
10 of 25
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all.
—Eleanor Roosevelt, Former United States First Lady
11 of 25
Don’t make excuses. Make improvements.
—Tyra Banks, TV Host and entrepreneur
12 of 25
Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice
I’ve seen the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows and everything in between. But what my mother, my grandmother, and all the powerful women in my family instilled in us-our faith, and how to make it our own-carries me through. It’s like they are very much still here.
—Jennifer Hudson, singer
14 of 25
It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.
—Maya Angelou, Poet, singer and civil rights activist
15 of 25
We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents, and interests.
—Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
16 of 25
A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.
—Sonia Sotomayor, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice
17 of 25
It’s not the absence of fear, it’s overcoming it. Sometimes you’ve got to blast through and have faith.
