The false belief that women are somehow inferior to men has plagued our societies for way too long. While this sort of ideology is still making its presence felt in some parts of the world, things are way better now.

This is thanks to the women that kept rising to the occasion time and again, succeeding where men have fallen short.

The origins of patriarchy—which means a system where men rule—dates back to when society was divided into tribes. Those groups fought endlessly, an act that claimed the lives of many men and led to the capturing of women and children.

These war dynamics were one of the early reasons why women were viewed with such a broken lens of weakness. Needless to say, this all changed when women have become our leaders and warriors, completely dispelling any erroneous belief. 

Because women are worth celebrating at every turn, this post is dedicated to doing just that. We’ve compiled a list of 40 inspirational quotes for women that’ll encourage you to keep shining like the star you are!

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Sacrifices are a part of life; there’s no way around that. It’s the opportunity cost, as any economist will tell you. Just by being here, you’re missing out on something over there. 

However, besides the concrete sacrifices and fork-in-the-road moments we face in life, there’s what I call “expected sacrifice.” 

This means the sacrifice we’re told we’ll be making in the future based on someone else’s experience, or, even worse, a collective belief deeply held by the whole society.

The sacrifice women have to make between career and family is largely an expected sacrifice, and not necessarily a concrete one. So much so that most of today’s women begin thinking about that trade-off too early.

In her book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter, the author, Peggy Orenstein, tells a peculiar story about a 5-year-old girl who comes home panicking. Why? Because in a school activity, she and her crush both said they want to be astronauts.

The problem? The little girl was freaking out about who’ll take care of the kids if they’re both in space! Actually, this eyebrow-raising story coincides with some solid stats. 

Women in college who said they’ll choose marriage overwork are two times the men who said so when asked. As you can see, even though these women haven’t been put in the situation yet, they have the preconceived idea of the major sacrifice. 

Held back by that, many women don’t live up to their potential even without a family in the picture. That’s why it’s necessary to be true to yourself and look within for the pointers you need, instead of letting others’ beliefs dictate your path. 

Embrace your individual experience, which could be mostly career-oriented, family-based, or a mixture of the two. You know what, these two aren’t even the only choices on the table.

We all can benefit from starting to live what the bestselling author Jeff Goins calls the portfolio life. In essence, it means you’re not one thing or the other. 

Beyond the broad categorization of work and family, our lives are the portfolio of the various activities we perform and that make us who we are.

The bottom line is this: what inspires a woman is unique to her, regardless of the categorizations of society. While it isn’t bad to ask for advice, don’t ever forget to consult the most important person: yourself!


What Inspires Women: Personal vs. Professional Goals

Everywhere a man looks, his eyes will meet plenty of mentors in his work field and geographic area—people who preceded him and left a clear trail. 

With women, things are a bit more complicated. It’s that much harder to find such female role models, which isn’t necessarily due to a lack thereof. 

For one, many of the women who manage to achieve success in their professional and personal lives aren’t given due credit or attention. 

This doesn’t only demand us to push successful women to the forefront, but should also call our attention to a more dire issue. In fact, in parts of the world, there are many fields where women are tasked with being pioneers, as those fields are dominated by men.

Amid such circumstances, women could use some inspiration and solidarity. One way of fulfilling that need is through the “spirit of sisterhood,” which urges women from around the world to have each other’s back. 

This concept is the core belief behind the international nonprofit organization Women For Women. An inspired young woman, Zainab Salbi managed to found this organization when she was just 23! 

Channeling this force of inspiration, she not only inspired women who lived in war-torn countries but did a bit more than that; She helped them meet the needs that were uncatered for and offered an opportunity that the world had denied them. The work of this nonprofit is only one example of how much an inspired woman with purpose can do.

In this spirit, we’ll proceed to walk you through a list of quotes from similarly successful women—ones that deserve our spotlight, because they have something inspiring to say!

Why Women Need Inspiration?

Despite the fact that men are still the heads of most tables out there, women are, slowly but surely, joining said tables. Whether it’s a man or woman, though, it shouldn’t matter. What’s important is competence, and that’s something that witnesses no shortage among women. 

Women who have climbed to high positions have served as a beacon of hope for those who are yet to make it. That’s a no-brainer. However, even in defeat, women manage to inspire. 

After Hilary Clinton fell short in the 2016 elections, the number of women running for political positions in 2018 had spiked. 

Wanting nothing more than the continuous increase of such numbers, here are some quotes that might help with that!

“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

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” - Sheryl Sandberg

“Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” - Michelle Obama

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be criticized anyway.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“I’ve always subscribed to the belief that the best leader is not one who has the most followers, but one who creates the most leaders. I strive every day — and in every program and offering we have at Integrous Women — to create more conscious, confident, and soulful leaders who, in return, will build a better world for all.” - Stephanie Courtillier

“A good leader is able to paint a picture of a vision for the future and then enlist others to go on the journey with her. A truly conscious leader recognizes that it is not about her, but that the team is looking to her for inspiration and direction. Keeping her ego in check is essential.” - Tamra Ryan

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” - Muriel Strode

“One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.” - Jacinda Ardern

"The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first." - Iyanla Vanzant

"We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead." - Beyoncé

"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand

"Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen." - Brené Brown

"I believe in quiet, strong, and grounded leadership. I think some of the best leaders are those whose work is widely known and respected but who, themselves, are relatively unknown." - Rachael Chong

"Women lead in different ways. Women rarely feel the need to speak the most at a meeting to make their point." - Patricia Bellinger

"Women are leaders everywhere you go, 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

"Your job as a leader is to stay as close in touch as possible with those closest to the action." - Kat Cole

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa

"Don't waste your energy trying to educate or change opinions; go over, under, through, and opinions will change organically when you're the boss. Or they won't. Who cares? Do your thing, and don't care if they like it." - Tina Fey

“I'm no longer accepting the things I cannot change...I'm changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela Davis

“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.” - Margaret Thatcher 

Quotes About Leadership for Women

Shouldering the responsibility of bringing up the next generation is a woman. At the heart of every close-knit family lies a woman. No one can offer that much unconditional support for their loved ones like, you’ve guessed it, a woman.

True, women who choose to fight in the frontier of leadership and career are heroines. However, those who dedicate their lives to their families exhibit the same amount of heroism. I’ll leave it at that, and let those quotes do the rest of the talking!  

“Men are what their mothers made them.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We broke through the feminine mystique and women who were wives, mothers and housewives began to find themselves as people. That didn't mean they stopped, or had to stop, being mothers, wives or even liking their homes.” - Betty Friedan

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” - Oprah Winfrey

“A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” - Dorothy Canfield Fisher

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” - Francis de Sales

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” - Proverbs 31:26

“There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.” - Homer

“That’s what a good wife does, keeps your dreams alive even when you don’t believe anymore.” - Michael J. Sullivan

“The mother's heart is the child's classroom.” - Henry Ward Beecher

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

“It's hard to keep moving forward, keep working, and keep your head up, but that's what strong women do. Especially being a mom, I can't fall apart.” - Teresa Giudice

“In my family, growing up, the women were always the ones who were powerful, and they exuded this charisma of empowerment that I hold onto and always remember. I had some difficult times, but these strong women were always a constant.” - Mickalene Thomas

”I think it takes a strong man to be in a relationship with a strong woman. A lot of people hear the word ‘diva’ and think of it as a negative. I see it as a positive. I want somebody who knows what they want out of life and isn’t afraid to show it.” - Nick Cannon

“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

”The king may rule the kingdom, but it’s the queen who moves the board.” - D.M. Timney

”The best protection any woman can have … is courage”-Elizabeth Cady Stanton

“I grew up in a bustling household of women with my mom, granny, and aunts. Seeing all these strong women taking charge of their lives and living it to the fullest was a great inspiration while growing up.” - Twinkle Khanna

The best thing a girl can be is a good wife and mother. It is a girl’s highest calling. I hope I am ready. - Nancy E. Turner

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” - Oprah Winfrey

“Children move stones with their feet. Men move rocks with their hands. Women move mountains with their hearts.” - Matshona Dhliwayo 

Quotes About Family for Women

Women have gotten out of the box they’ve been put in for centuries, proving their excellence in all walks of life. There are many confident, competent, can-do women who are creating change in every corner of the world.

I know that the last sentence had a lot of C letters in it, but I’ve got one final “C” for you then I’ll be on my way: “See” to it that you always stay true to yourself, and live up to your own definition of how a successful woman should be like!

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Conclusion