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44 Strong Women Quotes That Will Stay with You

Emily GoodmanEmily GoodmanUpdated: Apr. 21, 2022

Get ready for some serious girl power!

1 / 45
Illustration of stars and dotsrd.com, Getty Images

When women talk, we all should listen. The 45 strong women quoted below are proof of that. Their words range from funny quotes to more serious ones. Some of them are happy quotes, others are calls to action. But they are all inspirational quotes from legendary ladies. And they will all stay with you long after reading them.

These strong women and the wisdom they impart empower us to be bold, to dream big, and to embrace ourselves and each other. So, get ready for some serious girl power!

2 / 45
"Females are the most beautiful, gorgeous creatures in the whole world. And I think that we are gorgeous no matter what size we are." —Alicia Keys, musical artistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #1

“Females are the most beautiful, gorgeous creatures in the whole world. And I think that we are gorgeous no matter what size we are.” —Alicia Keys, musical artist

3 / 45
"A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult." —Melinda Gates, philanthropistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #2

“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” —Melinda Gates, philanthropist

4 / 45
"You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman." —Mary Elizabeth Winstead, actorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #3

“You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman.” —Mary Elizabeth Winstead, actor

5 / 45
"Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water." —Eleanor Roosevelt, First Ladyrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #4

“Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” —Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady

See other empowering quotes from strong women in politics.

6 / 45
"I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be." —Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #5

“I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.” —Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writer

7 / 45
"I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story—I will." —Amy Schumer, comedianrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #6

“I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story—I will.” —Amy Schumer, comedian

8 / 45
"I always wanted to be a femme fatale. Even when I was a young girl, I never really wanted to be a girl. I wanted to be a woman." —Diane Von Furstenberg, designerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #7

“I always wanted to be a femme fatale. Even when I was a young girl, I never really wanted to be a girl. I wanted to be a woman.” —Diane Von Furstenberg, designer

9 / 45
"A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done." —Marge Piercy, poetrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #8

“A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.” —Marge Piercy, poet

10 / 45
"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness." —Oprah, TV host and producerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #9

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” —Oprah, TV host and producer

11 / 45
"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, advocaterd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #10

“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, advocate

12 / 45
"Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others." —Amelia Earhart, aviatorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #11

“Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” —Amelia Earhart, aviator

13 / 45
"Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." —Nora Ephron, writerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #12

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron, writer

14 / 45
"Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention." —P!nk, musical artistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #13

“Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention.” —P!nk, musical artist. Check out more of the best quotes from famous people you certainly won’t forget.

15 / 45
"Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes." —Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the Houserd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #14

“Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” —Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

16 / 45
"I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls." —Audrey Hepburn, actorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #15

“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.” —Audrey Hepburn, actor

17 / 45
“I think the truth of the matter is, people who end up as ‘first’ don’t actually set out to be first. They set out to do something they love and it just so happens that they are the first to do it.” – Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State rd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #16

“I think the truth of the matter is, people who end up as ‘first’ don’t actually set out to be first. They set out to do something they love and it just so happens that they are the first to do it.” – Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State 

Read up on some quotes about the strongest woman you know with these mother-son quotes and mother-daughter quotes.

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"I am woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that's me." —Maya Angelou, poetrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #17

“I am woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” —Maya Angelou, poet

Check out more Maya Angelou quotes.

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"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult." —Charlotte Whitton, mayorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #18

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” —Charlotte Whitton, mayor

20 / 45
"In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders." —Sheryl Sandberg, business executiverd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #19

“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” —Sheryl Sandberg, business executive

21 / 45
"Figure out who are you separate from your family. Find who you are in this world and what you need to feel good alone. I think that’s the most important thing in life. Find a sense of self. With that, you can do anything else." —Angelina Jolie, actorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #20

“Figure out who are you separate from your family. Find who you are in this world and what you need to feel good alone. I think that’s the most important thing in life. Find a sense of self. With that, you can do anything else.” —Angelina Jolie, actor

22 / 45
"Don’t hold back because you think it’s unladylike. We shouldn’t be shamed out of our anger. We should be using it. Using it to make change in our own lives, and using it to make change in the lives around us." —Jessica Valenti, writerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #21

“Don’t hold back because you think it’s unladylike. We shouldn’t be shamed out of our anger. We should be using it. Using it to make change in our own lives, and using it to make change in the lives around us.” —Jessica Valenti, writer

23 / 45
"There's something special about a woman who dominates in a man's world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer." —Rihanna, musical artistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #22

“There’s something special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” —Rihanna, musical artist

24 / 45
"I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind learning." —Amy Poehler, comedianrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #23

“I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind learning.” —Amy Poehler, comedian

25 / 45
“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret Thatcher, Former United Kingdom Prime Ministerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #24

“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

26 / 45
"A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts." —Nancy Rathburn, educatorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #25

“A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts.” —Nancy Rathburn, educator

27 / 45
"My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent." —Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justicerd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #26

“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice

These Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes define her legacy.

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"Women are always saying, 'We can do anything that men can do.' But men should be saying, 'We can do anything that women can do.'" —Gloria Steinem, activistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #27

“Women are always saying, ‘We can do anything that men can do.’ But men should be saying, ‘We can do anything that women can do.'” —Gloria Steinem, activist

29 / 45
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." —Audre Lorde, writerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #28

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” —Audre Lorde, writer

30 / 45
"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." —Michelle Obama, Former First Ladyrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #29

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” —Michelle Obama, Former First Lady

Find more inspiration in our favorite Michelle Obama quotes.

31 / 45
"Call me whatever you want. It’s not going to stop me from trying to do the right thing. Because it doesn’t just affect me, it affects all the other women who are in this with me, and it affects all the other men who are in this with me, too." —Emma Watson, actorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #30

“Call me whatever you want. It’s not going to stop me from trying to do the right thing. Because it doesn’t just affect me, it affects all the other women who are in this with me, and it affects all the other men who are in this with me, too.” —Emma Watson, actor

32 / 45
"A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars." —Carly Simon, musical artistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #31

“A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars.” —Carly Simon, musical artist

33 / 45
"A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform." —Diane Mariechild, writerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #32

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” —Diane Mariechild, writer

34 / 45
"Women have discovered that they cannot rely on men's chivalry to give them justice." —Helen Keller, advocaterd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #33

“Women have discovered that they cannot rely on men’s chivalry to give them justice.” —Helen Keller, advocate

35 / 45
"The beauty of being a feminist is that you get to be whatever you want. And that's the point." —Shonda Rhimes, TV producerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #34

“The beauty of being a feminist is that you get to be whatever you want. And that’s the point.” —Shonda Rhimes, TV producer

Check out early feminist quotes that still resonate today.

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“Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.” —Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador rd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #35

“Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.” —Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador 

37 / 45
"If fighting for women’s health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the women’s card, then deal me in." —Hillary Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of Staterd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #36

“If fighting for women’s health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the women’s card, then deal me in.” —Hillary Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State

38 / 45
"Women that believe in each other can survive anything. Women who believe in each other create armies that will win kingdoms and wars." —Nikita Gill, poetrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #37

“Women that believe in each other can survive anything. Women who believe in each other create armies that will win kingdoms and wars.” —Nikita Gill, poet

39 / 45
"I can do anything when I am in a tutu." —Misty Copeland, dancerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #38

“I can do anything when I am in a tutu.” —Misty Copeland, dancer

40 / 45
"We need to get women to the point where they aren't apologizing.  Its time to take ownership in our success." —Tori Burch, designerrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #39

“We need to get women to the point where they aren’t apologizing.  It’s time to take ownership in our success.” —Tori Burch, designer

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"One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I'm a woman. That is the way all females should feel." —Marilyn Monroe, actorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #40

“One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I’m a woman. That is the way all females should feel.” —Marilyn Monroe, actor

42 / 45
"I've always wanted to be a woman who isn't afraid to tell her story." —Andra day, musical artistrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #41

“I’ve always wanted to be a woman who isn’t afraid to tell her story.” —Andra day, musical artist

43 / 45
"What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters. You're going to walk into many rooms where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you've had. So you use that voice and be strong." —Kamala Harris, Vice Presidentrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #42

“What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. So you use that voice and be strong.” —Kamala Harris, Vice President

Here are other fabulous Kamala Harris quotes.

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"I’ve often thought it unfair that women are expected to stay at home when there’s a fight to be won. If a woman has the strength to bear a child, she can swing a sword as well as any man." —Karen Hawkins, authorrd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #43

“I’ve often thought it unfair that women are expected to stay at home when there’s a fight to be won. If a woman has the strength to bear a child, she can swing a sword as well as any man.” —Karen Hawkins, author

45 / 45
"There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them.”—Clare Boothe Luce, former U.S. representative rd.com, Getty Images

Women empowerment quote #44

“There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them.”—Clare Boothe Luce, former U.S. representative 

Next, read 50 powerful kindness quotes that will stay with you.

Originally Published: March 02, 2021
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest