Top 18 Inspirational Quotes for International Women's Day

In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we pay homage to the remarkable women whose wisdom, courage, and achievements have shaped history. Through their powerful words, they have inspired generations, breaking barriers and championing equality. Here are 18 of the best inspirational quotes from extraordinary women who have left an indelible mark on the world:

Althea Gibson

African American tennis player.

“In sports, you simply aren't considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning it twice proves you are the best.”

Edith Wharton

American writer and designer.

“There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Former U.S. first lady and women’s rights activist.

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader,a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”

Gertrude Ederle

American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record-holder in five events.

“Slowly I came to know that the depth of our heartbreaks determines the depth of our faith. God gives us everything to conquer the big and the little hurts of life.”

Grace Hopper

American computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy rear admiral.

“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that. That's why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.”

Helen Keller

American author and activist.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

Indira Gandhi

First female prime minister of India.

“Opportunities are not offered. They must be wrested and worked for. And this calls for perseverance... and courage.”

Junko Tabei

Japanese mountain climber and the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others... it rises from your heart.”

Malala Yousafzai

Pakistani education activist and the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate, achieving this milestone at the age of 17.

“Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”

Margaret Thatcher

The United Kingdom's first female prime minister.

“Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.”

Maria Montessori

Italian physian and educator.

“Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves.”

Marie Curie

Polish-French physicist and chemist, and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

Rosalind Franklin

British chemist who helped reveal the structure of DNA.

“In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best we shall succeed in our aims: the improvement of mankind.”

Sally Ride

American astronaut and the first American woman to fly in space.

“Three Secrets to Success: Be willing to learn new things. Be able to assimilate new information quickly. Be able to get along with and work with other people.”

Sandra Day O'Connor

American jurist and the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

“I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.”

Selma Lagerlöf

Swedish writer and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.

“For, so long as there are interesting books to read, it seems to me that neither I nor anyone else, for that matter, need be unhappy.”

Susan B. Anthony

American women’s suffrage activist.

“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”

Wangari Maathai

Kenyan activist and the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

“You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.”

Let these words resonate as we celebrate the strength, resilience, and enduring legacy of women around the globe.

Enjoying these quotes? Fantastic! Adorn your space with our posters, each showcasing a powerful quote accompanied by a watercolor portrait of the inspiring woman who uttered it.