36 Confidence Quotes to Help You Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Ever feel like a fraud? Like you just don’t measure up? That your successes are nothing but the result of an abundance of good luck? Then you might be experiencing imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people have the belief that they're inadequate, despite evidence to the contrary, and can cripple their self-confidence.

If you’ve ever experienced any of these feelings, you aren’t alone; we all experience imposter syndrome at some point in our careers. Here are 36 courage and confidence quotes guaranteed to remind you of your ability to succeed in life.

Inspiring quotes to help you build confidence

1. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." — Eleanor Roosevelt

2. "I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." ­­— ­Maya Angelou

3. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." — John Wooden

4. "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face....We must do that which we think we cannot." — Eleanor Roosevelt 

5. "Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful." ­— Mark Victor Hansen

6. "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." — Mark Twain

7. "Trust yourself—you know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock

8. "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." — Eleanor Roosevelt 

9. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." — Helen Keller

10. Confidence comes from discipline and training.” — Robert Kiyosaki

11. “Through my education, I didn’t just develop skills, I didn’t just develop the ability to learn, but I developed confidence.” — Michelle Obama

12. “Style is whatever you want to do if you can do it with confidence.” — George Clinton

13. “I’ve always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it’s also been about confidence and faith.” — Stephen Curry

14. “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself.” — Potter Stewart

15. “I have confidence about my life that comes from standing tall on my own two feet.” — Jane Fonda

16. “Confidence comes from hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication.” — Roger Staubach

17. “Confidence is not, ‘they will like me.’ Confidence instead is, ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t.’” — Christina Grimmie

18. “For me, it’s always been about preparation, and the more prepared I can be each week, the less pressure I feel and the more confident I am. As your confidence grows, it’s only natural that the pressure you feel diminishes.” — Aaron Rodgers 

19. “There is a very thin line between confidence and arrogance.” — Adam Peaty

20. “Believing in yourself and having confidence gives you outer strength.” — Nikki Bella

21. “It is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.” — Lillian Hellman

22. “Confidence comes with maturity, being more accepting of yourself.” — Nicole Scherzinger

23. “The most important thing is to have opportunities and feel confident in yourself.” — Javier Hernandez

24. “Confidence is key. Sometimes, you need to look like you’re confident even when you’re not.” — Vanessa Hudgens

25. “Great leaders don’t need to act tough. Their confidence and humility serve to underscore their toughness.” — Simon Sinek

26. “Confidence is the most beautiful thing you can possess.” — Sabrina Carpenter 

27. “Learn to bet on yourself and have confidence in your decisions. No one knows your business better than you.” — Leah Busque

28. “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.” — Vince Lombardi

29. “If you don’t have any confidence, you’re not going to do anything.” — Stefon Diggs

30. “Don’t be afraid to take the tough jobs. You’ll develop confidence in dealing with tough issues that will serve you for the rest of your career.” — Geisha Williams 

31. “Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence.” — Aristotle

32. “For me, so far, confidence has been a journey, not a destination.” — Jessica Williams

33. "I think confidence is a true form of beauty.” — Becky G

34. “Have the confidence to focus on uncharted territory. Take chances.” — Julie Sweet 

35. “All anything takes, really, is confidence.” — Rachel Ward 

36. “I have always felt strongly about empowering women. I’m living proof that, with confidence and by believing in yourself, you can accomplish any goal.” — Queen Latifah

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Samantha Smoak is a journalist turned tech public relations professional based in Nashville, Tennessee. For sports jokes and dog pictures, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @samanthaksmoak.