Learning to believe in yourself doesn’t happen all at once — it’s built one brave step, one challenge, and one encouraging reminder at a time. In honor of International Day of the Girl, we’re celebrating every girl’s limitless potential with 15 empowering quotes to remind her that her voice matters, her ideas are worth sharing, and she is capable of more than she realizes. Save your favorites, share them with a girl in your life, and come back to these words whenever she (or you!) needs a little encouragement.
“Your voice can change the world. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton
“When we dim our light, we don’t do anyone a favor. It’s a disservice because when you’re in the presence of someone who knows his or her worth, you want to shine brighter.” — Alicia Keys
“When anyone tells me I can’t do anything … I’m just not listening anymore.” — Florence Griffith Joyner
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher
“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” — Madeleine Albright
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” — Misty Copeland
“If you are always trying to be normal, you’ll never know how amazing you can be.” — Maya Angelou
“Every person should feel their own power, knowing they can make a difference.” – Dolores Huerta
“Confidence is not something one person is born with and another isn’t. You have to work toward it.” — Michelle Kwan
“Be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — Judy Garland
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” — Marie Curie
“I raise up my voice, not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” — Malala Yousafzai
Helping Girls Believe in Themselves
Encouraging words can be powerful, but girls also need spaces where they can put confidence into practice. At Girls on the Run, girls build confidence, strengthen meaningful connections, and practice skills they can use at school, at home, and in their communities. Learn more about Girls on the Run.
