Growing up, most of the quotes I read about women were written by men. In fact, there seemed to be more quotes about women by “anonymous”, “Confucius”, and “unknown” than by women. 

And they were often based on disparaging stereotypes - not great for our self-respect. For example, Tennessee Williams famously said "all pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be," while Will Rogers said "all pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be.
"

But now women not only feel entitled to have a voice, their voices are heard. And we're learning how to respect ourselves. Here's a list of some of my favorite quotes about self-respect and grabbing your life by the reigns.

1.  Here’s a collection of quotes about self-respect from women, for women. 
2.  Never bend your head. Always old it high. Look the world straight in the face. - Helen Keller
3. I am a strong woman with or without this person, with or without this job, and with or without these tight pants. — Queen Latifah
4. If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman -Margaret Thatcher
5. When you undervalue what you do, the whole world will undervalue who you are- Oprah Winfrey 
6.  I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself - Emma Stone
7.  It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends - J.K. Rowling
8. Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else - Judy Garland
9.  You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens - Louise l Hay
10.  No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt
11.  It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes - Sally Field
12.  It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I’m not going to be silent - Madeleine Albright 
13.  Start loving yourself and everything else will come — Lisa Lieberman-Wang 
14.  I do not believe in using women in combat, because females are too fierce - Margaret Mead
15. If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it - Erma Bombeck 
16. Power is not given to you. You have to take it - Beyoncé Knowles
17. Everyone has inside of her a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! - Anne Frank
18. Self-respect is a question of recognizing that anything worth having has a price - Joan Didion 
     No girl should forget that she doesn’t need anyone who doesn’t need her - Marilyn Monroe 
19.  A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water - Eleanor Roosevelt
20.  Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got - Janis Joplin
21.  Be beautiful if you can, wise if you want to, but be respected – that is essential - Anna Gould 
22.  Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself - Eleanor Roosevelt
23. Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity - Katrina Mayer 
24. A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life - Dr. Joyce Brothers 
25. I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time - Anna Freud
26. Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else - Judy Garland
27. Don’t put yourself down. It gives other people ideas. – Dr. Georgia Witkin

--

Please share your favorite self-respect quotes by emailing me at [email protected] and we’ll post an update.