57 Classy and Inspiring Independent Women Quotes To Live By

Being an independent woman means embracing all the challenges and rewards that come with living without someone else’s permission.

It can take courage to forge your own path and make it through life on your own, but these quotes from some of the greatest women in history will remind you, you are not alone and that you have plenty of support to get you through your goals and dreams.

These inspirational quotes about being an independent woman are perfect for anyone striving to be better, do better, and be her best self. Here are 57 classy and inspiring independent women quotes to live by.

Independent Women #1: Michelle Obama

You don’t need to be a woman running for president to understand that our country is still not equal. We need more women in charge. More women who are independent, more women deciding about how we grow our economy, how we educate our children, how we change our world. (Quote by Michelle Obama).

Independent Women #2: Hillary Clinton

You can guarantee that there’s a special level of hell for women who don’t help other women. If you believe that, as I do, it means that each of us has to be all we can be. And if you’re truly going to be all you can be, you have to commit yourself not only to the mind but heart and soul.

When I give 100 percent, I expect 100 percent back. It doesn’t always happen that way but it should. Anything less is unacceptable. Unfortunately, with so many women giving so much of themselves–maybe too much–we are losing sight of something very important: We’re losing ourselves.

Independent Women #3: Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm, a professional soccer player from 1987 to 2004, played for teams like Washington Freedom, Philadelphia Charge, Carolina Courage, Los Angeles Sol, Seattle Reign FC, Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC. She is credited with scoring more international goals than any other player (158) in history.

Hamm married Nomar Garciaparra on October 21, 1999 but filed for divorce two years later due to infidelity. I mean, you know that saying: Love hurts? Well so does rejection. A broken heart is so much worse than a broken bone. ~Mia Hamm~

Independent Women Quotes #4: by Oprah Winfrey

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
Everybody has a purpose in life. I believe that some are messengers; others are poets; others are healers.
When we know our purpose, we can put our energies into helping others find theirs.
I always define courage as somebody who struggles through an obstacle in order to achieve an objective or because he believes it is a good idea.

Independent Women #5: Mae Jemison

Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American engineer, physician and NASA astronaut. She became the first African-American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.

Born in Decatur, Alabama, Jemison developed an interest in science at an early age. She knew from a young age that she wanted to work as a physician but did not feel that her community would readily accept a black doctor.

My mother told me that nothing I could do would be hard if I believed in myself.

Independent Women #6: Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver is an American journalist, a political figure, and a member of several high-profile public service organizations. She’s often called one of America’s most influential women.

As First Lady of California from 2003 to 2011, she was active in social policy reform efforts such as increasing early childhood education opportunities for Californian children in low-income communities. Her work earned her awards like California Social Worker of the Year, Visionary Award, and CNN Hero.

After leaving her office, she focused on her lifelong passion for education by establishing The Center for Youth Opportunity (CYO), which helped more than 18,000 at-risk youth find jobs during its first four years of operation.

Maria Shriver’s famous quote: The act of learning changes you, but not as much as being open to opportunities when they come along does.

Independent Women #7: Jane Austen

Jane Austen is one of my favorite independent women quotes. She is well known for her literary genius, particularly through her novel Pride and Prejudice. If you’ve never read a Jane Austen book before, I can confidently say that you should put your reading queue on hold for now (maybe forever) in order to grab a copy.

Independent Women #8: Mary Barra:

Mary Barra is an American businesswoman who serves as CEO of General Motors. Prior to assuming her current role in 2014, she was executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain. She is credited with revitalizing GM’s reputation after it underwent a federally-funded bankruptcy restructuring during her first year at the company’s helm. Forbes named her one of its Most Powerful Women in Business in 2013 and again in 2014.

Being a woman in leadership comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s also been quite rewarding. My dad taught me that women can do anything they want if they put their minds to it, so I just set out to prove that I could. — Mary Barra

Independent Women #9: Diane Sawyer

If you want to be really, really happy, you have to have somebody in your life who makes you laugh. That’s one of my goals—to make someone else laugh at least once a day. — Diane Sawyer , Journalist

More independent women quotes

Be gentle with yourself. You are no less a part of the universe than any other creature. In ignorance, you took actions that led you to this moment, but do not remain here.
Do not let your life slip away without having been a joy to yourself and others. ― Barbara De Angelis, Ask And It Is Given:
Learning to Manifest Your Desires If there is anything better than to be loved it is loving. ― Leo Buscag
It is a must love yourself in other to get anything done in this life. If you don’t love yourself first, everything won’t fall in line. ― Lucille Ball
It is a life long romance if you love yourself — Oscar Wilde
Trust yourself. Create the self that you will be happy to live with all your life.
Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement. ― Golda Meir
The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven’t changed in seventy or eighty years. Your body changes, but you don’t change at all. And that, of course, causes great confusion for young people.
The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters. ― Audrey Hepburn, Gardens in Autumn We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can control our responses to them. ― Stephen R. Covey
Women are like teabags — you don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water! ― Eleanor Roosevelt If fear is not banished, then freedom is not attained. ― John Lennon
Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. ― Jim Rohn
A real lover is a man who can thrill you just by touching your head or smiling into your eyes – or just by staring into space. ― Marilyn Monroe
We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~ Jawaharlal Nehru
No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear. He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears. ― Edmund Burke
If I had known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself. ~ Groucho Marx
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where she is. ~ Ellen DeGeneres
You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.- Maya Angelou
Believe nothing at face value; dig for deeper meaning beneath it all — Piers Anthony
Writing about yourself is like dancing about architecture — Alfredo Enrique Povedano
Optimism is an essential ingredient for achieving anything worthwhile- Eleanor Roosevelt
I have to follow my heart, but I also have to be responsible. That’s a big part of being an adult. You can’t just do whatever you feel like doing. – Angelina Jolie
A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. Quote by Coco Chanel
From my experience, you can judge a person’s character by the way he or she deals with three common happenings: storm, lost luggage, and Christmas tree lights. Quote by Maya Angelou
Look back on what you have accomplished; look forward to what is ahead of you; celebrate what you have now – it’s all part of your legacy! – Sheryl Sandberg