Powerful Quotes about Success and Achievement by Strong Women

This is not a collection of quotes about women rights or female activism. Instead, these are inspiring words voiced by women leaders over the last 600 years and more – words of great wisdom, authority, and motivation.

The quotes are sorted chronologically by birth date of the originator. Enjoy, share and feel inspired!

One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying. Joan of Arc, nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans”

(ca. 1412 – 1431, folk heroine of France)

I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster. Yekaterina Alexeevna or Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great

(1729 – 1796, longest-ruling female leader of Russia)

We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist. Queen Victoria

(1819 – 1901, British monarch from 1837 until her death)

We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained. Marie Skłodowska-Curie

(1867 – 1934, Polish-French physicist and chemist)

Those who do not move, do not notice their chains. Rosa Luxemburg

(1871 – 1919, Polish-German philosopher, and revolutionary socialist)

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel

(1883 – 1971, French fashion designer)

Do one thing every day that scares you. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

(1884 – 1962, longest-serving First Lady of the United States)

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

(1905 – 1982, American novelist, philosopher, and screenwriter)

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. Mother Teresa Teresa of Calcutta

(1910 – 1997, Albanian-born, Indian Roman Catholic Religious Sister)

There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi

(1917 – 1984, third Prime Minister of India)

The power to question is the basis of all human progress. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi

(1917 – 1984, third Prime Minister of India)

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. Eleanor Rosalynn Carter

(*1927, wife of the 39th President of the United States)

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou

(1928 – 2014, American author and poet)

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Annelies “Anne” Marie Frank, better known as Anne Frank

(1929 – 1945, Dutch; Holocaust victim)

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. Annelies “Anne” Marie Frank, better known as Anne Frank

(1929 – 1945, Dutch; Holocaust victim)

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. Yoko Ono

(*1933, Japanese artist and peace activist)

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Alice Malsenior Walker

(*1944, American author and activist)

Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it. Lila Diane Sawyer

(*1945, American television newscaster)

Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world. Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton

(*1947, U.S. Senator, and First Lady of the United States)

Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. Oprah Gail Winfrey

(*1954, American media proprietor, actress, producer, and philanthropist)

Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live. Anne Marie Sweeney

(*1957, former president of the Disney-ABC Television Group; businesswoman and television director)

A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want. Madonna Louise Ciccone

(*1958, American singer, songwriter, and actress)

Only do what your heart tells you. Diana, Princess of Wales

(1961 – 1997, first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales)

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Melinda French Gates

(*1964, American businesswoman and philanthropist)

When you lose a couple of times, it makes you realize how difficult it is to win. Stefanie Maria “Steffi” Graf

(*1969, German former World No.1 tennis player)