Self-respect quotes for women written by women just hit differently. In today’s post, I share quotes by absolute icons such as Cher, Lady Gaga, and one of my all-time favorites (even though fictional), Samantha Jones.
Use these self-respect quotes when you need a mindset shift to see your worth and create a life by your own standards. Or choose one and spend a few moments journaling about what it means for you and how you can step into the energy it speaks about.
If you’re a woman rebuilding her sense of self-worth, setting boundaries, and are ready to stop settling for less, enjoy.
Self-Respect Quotes About Independence and Choosing Yourself
1. “My mom said to me, ‘You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man,’ and I said, ‘Mom, I am a rich man.” ― Cher
2. “A busy, vibrant, goal-oriented woman is so much more attractive than a woman who waits around for a man to validate her existence.” ― Mandy Hale
3. “It takes courage to acknowledge you want something different, say, “Good for her, but not for me,” or “Good for you, but not for me,” and ignite a path that no one in your family ever took.” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
4. “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” — Nora Ephron
5. “I am not the type of woman who sits home all day waiting for a man.” ― Samantha Jones
6. “I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.” — Dolly Parton
7. “Don’t save your good lingerie for dates, wear it for you.” ― Dita Von Teese
8. “I love you, but I love me more.” ― Samantha Jones
9. “If your joy is derived from what society thinks of you, you’re always going to be disappointed.” ― Madonna
10. “Always choose yourself first. Women are very socialized to choose other people. If you put yourself first, it’s this incredible path you can forge for yourself.” ― Rebecca Traister
Read next:
7 Things to Do While You’re Single Before Your Next Relationship
Self-Respect Quotes About Confidence and Inner Power
11. “Confidence is 10% hard work and 90% delusion.” ― Tina Fey
12. “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” — Coco Chanel
13. “Confidence is not ‘they will like me.’ Confidence is ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t.” ― Christina Grimmie
14. “You don’t have to be the most confident version of yourself. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you have to, for a moment, allow people to think whatever they want to think so that you can do what you want and need.” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
Read next:
5 Life-Coaching Tools for Confidence: Build Self-Belief That Lasts
6 Self-Confidence Habits to Build Your Confidence and Self-Esteem
Self-Respect Quotes About Boundaries and Standards
15. “It’s a lot harder to get someone out of your life than it is to let them in, so please… Be selective.” ― Mandy Hale
16. “Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself.” ― Oprah Winfrey
17. “You teach people how to treat you by what you allow.” — Anna Taylor
18. “A woman with boundaries is a woman with power.” — Glennon Doyle
19. “You deserve to be respectfully spoken to, no matter what.” — Ming-Na Wen
20. “Never apologize for standing up for yourself.” — Whitney Wolfe Herd
21. “If you do not respect your own wishes, no one else will. You will simply attract people who disrespect you as much as you do.” ― Vironika Tugaleva
22. “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” ― Brené Brown
23. “A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.” ― Madonna
24. “I don’t want anyone who doesn’t want me.” ― Oprah Winfrey
25. “Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down.” — Michelle Obama
Read next:
22 Deep Journal Prompts for Self-Respect and Stronger Boundaries
Self-Respect Quotes for Women About Authenticity
26. “I like the idea of being whoever I want to be.” ― Dita von Teese
27. “Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded.” — Lady Gaga
28. “I will not adjust myself to the world. I am adjusted to myself.” — Anaïs Nin
29. “If you don’t determine who you are and stand firm in your identity, you will attach your identity to the opinions of others. You’ll believe others when they tell you who they think you are and who you should be. If they say you’re selfish, you’ll believe them. If they say you don’t have what it takes to succeed, you’ll believe them. You will conform to the pressure to put your life on hold for someone else, stay quiet, nice, and agreeable instead of leading yourself with questions such as, “What feels authentic to me? Who do I want to be?” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
30. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” — Coco Chanel
31. “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise Hay
32. “Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.” — Judy Garland
33. “It’s not your job to be likable. It’s your job to be yourself.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
34. “Ignore the critics… Only mediocrity is safe from ridicule. Dare to be different!” ― Dita Von Teese
35. “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” ― Shannon L. Alder
36. “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.” — Lady Gaga
Read next:
How to Be Authentic In a World That Wants Everyone to Be the Same
Self-Respect Quotes About Saying No and Letting Go
37. “Let go of who you think you should be and embrace who you are.” — Brené Brown
38. “Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means making room for something better.” — Mandy Hale
39. “And if you want to do anything in your life, there comes a point where you’re done with explaining and defending yourself and your decisions. You let people think whatever they need to think, and you focus on your part of the equation. You focus on who you want to be and what you want to do.” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
40. “It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” — Sally Field
41. “You have to learn to get up from the table when respect is no longer being served.” — Victoria Erickson
42. “Every time you’re given a choice between disappointing someone else and disappointing yourself, your duty is to disappoint someone else.” — Glennon Doyle
Read next:
8 Tips to Say No Without Feeling Guilty and Selfish
How to Know If You Have Outgrown Who You Used to Be
Self-Respect Quotes for Women About Worthiness
43. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” — Maya Angelou
44. “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there.” — Venus Williams
45. “You will never gain anyone’s approval by begging for it. When you stand confident in your own worth, respect follows.” ― Mandy Hale
46. “Truly powerful people don’t explain why they want respect. They simply don’t engage someone who doesn’t give it to them.” ― Sherry Argov
47. “Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.” — Maya Angelou
48. “Your right to have a great life doesn’t depend on your circumstances. You deserve to live a life that feels good. No matter what.” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
Read next:
6 Steps to Demand Respect in Dating Without Chasing or Convincing
Self-Respect Quotes About Identity and Owning Your Life
49. “I’m tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” — Madonna
50. “If you don’t want to follow in your family’s footsteps, good. If you feel like a black sheep in your family, good. It means you were born to stand out and forge your own path.” ― Ivana Skoric, She’s Intense
51. “Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention.” — Pink
52. “Do your thing and don’t care if they like it.” ― Tina Fey
53. “Be an independent thinker at all times, and ignore anyone who attempts to define you in a limiting way.” ― Sherry Argov
54. “If I worried what every bitch in New York was saying about me, I’d never leave the house!” ― Samantha Jones
55. “Never dull your shine for somebody else.” ― Tyra Banks
If you liked this post and want to further explore how to become a woman who respects herself, my book She’s Intense is for you. Over 209 pages, I guide you to uncover your unique path, make decisions independent of what others think, and never settle for less. Get it on Amazon.
Want to revisit these self-respect quotes later? Pin this for when you need a reminder.
Until next time,
Ivana
Leave a Comment