50 Powerful Quotes From Women About Strength and Empowerment (2024)

Who runs the world? Girls! Beyoncé told us in 2011 with her hit song “Run the World,” and she was right. 

With Kamala Harris, leading the free world as the first female Vice President of the United States, it’s safe to say that women are breaking barriers and making extraordinary strides. Despite gender inequities across industries, women are consistently forging ahead and shattering glass ceilings. 

Is there more work to be done? Of course, that’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best strong women quotes to inspire, empower and encourage women to keep striving for equity while embracing and flaunting their awesomeness.  

From Hollywood heavy-hitters like Issa Rae and Ava DuVernay to Olympic gold medalists like Simone Biles and Shawn Johnson, this round-up includes powerful quotes from women who exemplify strength, confidence, courage and unmatched resilience. 

Making up 49.58% of the world population, now is the time to act and invest in the advancement of women and girls. According to the latest data from the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations Member States, the goal of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by 2030, is not on track. 

While more remains to be done, take note from some of the famous female trailblazers, political icons and prolific artists on how to stay the course when things get tough or seem bleak. These empowering messages are perfect for when you need a motivational pick-me-up. They’re also great to share with your female friends and family members or post on social media on International Women’s Day or during Women’s History Month as Instagram captions.   

No matter how you share them, use these strong quotes for women as fuel to conquer any fears, obstacles or challenges you may face. 

"If you can dance and be free and be embarrassed, you can rule the world."

“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.”

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”

“Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work. If you’re focusing on the glass ceiling, focusing on what you don’t have, focusing on the limitations, then you will be limited.”

The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence.”

“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.”

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”

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

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

"Women are the real architects of society."

“Strong women don’t have ‘attitudes’, we have standards.”

"Don't think about making women fit the world — think about making the world fit women.”

Bring your whole self to the experience. Because the more we do that, the more that people get to see that, the more comfortable everybody's gonna be with it."

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

“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.”

"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."

“Once I learned to like me more than others did, then I didn't have to worry about being the funniest or the most popular or the prettiest. I was the best me and I only ever tried to be that."

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”

"In too many instances, the march to globalization has also meant the marginalization of women and girls. And that must change."

“You don’t have to be pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female.'”