By Maxime Lagacé
Maxime is the founder of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page.
Here are 140 of the best self-esteem quotes I could find. Keep in mind having true self-esteem is a long process but if you keep going, things can change. You’ll discover quotes by Buddha, Emerson, Osho, and more. Enjoy!
Self-esteem is made up primarily of two things: feeling lovable and feeling capable. Jack Canfield
I used to hate feeling embarrassed, but then I realized nobody’s watching and nobody gives a damn. Barbara Corcoran
Be faithful to that which exists within yourself. André Gide
Who you are inside is what helps you make and do everything in life. Fred Rogers
The world will never value you more than you value yourself. Bill Masur
Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. Lucille Ball
Self-esteem isn’t everything; it’s just that there’s nothing without it. Gloria Steinem
Tell your struggling self, I love you so much. Haemin Sunim
You don’t have to convince anybody of anything, and you don’t have to attract anyone’s attention. Haruki Murakami (Norwegian Wood)
No one actually knows what the hell they’re doing. Everyone is just working off their current best guess. Mark Manson
The worst outcome in this world is not having self-esteem. If you don’t love yourself, who will? Naval Ravikant
Understand: You should be radiating confidence, not arrogance or disdain. Robert Greene
One who knows himself is never disturbed by what you think about him. Osho
Self-esteem begins with self-understanding, grows with courage and perseverance, ends with confidence. Maxime Lagacé
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Maya Angelou
Related
- 118 Self-Respect Quotes To Give You More Power
- 100 Self-Worth Quotes To Value Yourself (Even More)
- 100 Be Yourself Quotes To Boost Your Courage And Confidence
The Best Self-Esteem Quotes
The only thing that matters in life, is your own opinion about yourself. Osho
Feeling good about ourselves is essential in our being able to love others. Fred Rogers
Don’t do things that you know are morally wrong. Not because someone is watching, but because you are. Self-esteem is just the reputation that you have with yourself. You’ll always know. Naval Ravikant
Respect your uniqueness, and drop comparison. Relax into your being. Osho
Your fear of looking stupid is making you look stupid. What other people think of you is none of your business. Thibaut
Things you won’t say on your deathbed: “I wish I paid more attention to what other people think”. Johnny Uzan
Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It’s the fear that we’re not good enough. Brené Brown
Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think? Brené Brown (The Gifts of Imperfection, Amazon book)
Your sense of self-worth comes from you alone – never the opinion of others. Robert Greene
I hope you’re able to grow to respect whoever you are inside. Fred Rogers
Don’t let anyone make you feel that you don’t deserve the good things that happen in your life. Paulo Coelho
Don’t let compliments mess with your head or criticism mess with your heart. Thibaut
It’s exhausting caring about what other people think. Thibaut
You know you are on the right path when you no longer seek validation. @orangebook_
Be careful, ever so careful, in trumpeting your own achievements, and always talk less about yourself than about other people. Modesty is generally preferable. Robert Greene
Hesitation puts obstacles in your path, boldness eliminates them. Robert Greene
I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent – no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you. Seneca
Develop a love for solitude and silence and you’ll get peace and self-reliance in return. Maxime Lagacé
When you stop caring about being liked, you become more likable. @dailyzen
The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off. Robert Hand
Part 2. Self-Esteem Quotes That Are…
The Most Famous Self-Esteem Quotes (Goethe, Emerson, Buddha, etc.)
The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely. Carl Gustav Jung
A person’s self-esteem has nothing to do with how she looks. Halle Berry
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. William James
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will do it for you. Kobe Bryant
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. Dr. Seuss
I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. Frederick Douglass
Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future. Alice Walker
Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self. Charles Spurgeon
When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are. Oprah Winfrey
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha
Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. Marilyn Monroe
Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. Mufasa (The Lion King)
Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak. G.K. Chesterton (The Innocence of Father Brown)
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway
If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish. Sam Walton (Walmart)
You doubt your value. Don’t run from who you are. C.S. Lewis (Prince Caspian)
Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment. Thomas Carlyle
Short Self-Esteem Quotes
One-liners, short self-esteem quotes, sayings, thoughts, and captions for your bio, social status, self-talk, motto, mantra, signs, posters, wallpapers, and backgrounds.
Love who you are, embrace who you are. Lilly Singh
Don’t just fly, soar. Dumbo
The loudest critic is internal. James Clear
Chasing approval chases it away. @TheStoicEmperor
Never dishonor yourself to honor others. Unknown
Talk about your failures without apologizing. Brené Brown
The world can only see us as we see ourselves. David Hawkins
Stop comparing your life to everyone around you. Eric Thomas
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss
You have real success when you don’t try to impress. Maxime Lagacé
Put all excuses aside and remember this: you are capable. Zig Ziglar
Don’t compete with your neighbors. Compete with your ideals. @TheStoicEmperor
Inspirational Self-Esteem Quotes
Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. Helen Keller
If you want to see the love of your life, look in the mirror. Byron Katie
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson
To keep going when it’s tough is important. To believe in yourself no matter what is vital. Maxime Lagacé
Love yourself. When you love yourself, people can pick up on that: they can see confidence, they can see self-esteem, and naturally, people gravitate towards you. Lilly Singh
You’d be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is. Fergie (The Black Eyed Peas)
People wear all sorts of things, but the best part is the part that’s on the inside. That’s what’s really you — the person inside. Fred Rogers
You have moments, days, sometimes weeks when you will doubt yourself. Just know, it is all part of the spiritual process. Iyanla Vanzant
Retrieve your self-esteem so it is not dependent on how they do or don’t respond to you. You are enough. You are worthy. Thema Bryant-Davis
Self-belief must be balanced with self-awareness. Sam Altman
Your own level of excitement and self-belief will convince people that you know where you are going and should be followed. Robert Greene
Creative ideas happen when you stop thinking about what others will think. James Clear
Believe whatever you need to believe to do your best work. Sahil Lavingia
Related: Steps to Improving Your Self-Esteem (psychologytoday.com)
Helpful Self-Esteem Quotes
Surround yourself with people who only lift you higher. Payal Kadakia
You acquire self-esteem when you always do what you said you would do. @orangebook_
So much advantage in life comes from being willing to look like an idiot over the short term. Shane Parrish
When I extend small kindness to others, I find it easier to like myself. If you feel that your self-esteem is low, try extending small kindness to strangers. Haemin Sunim
We can gradually drop our ideals of who we think we ought to be… or who we think other people think we want to be or ought to be. Pema Chödrön
Ask for what you want. You usually won’t get it, and often the rejection will be painful. But when this works, it works surprisingly well. Sam Altman
Define yourself by your strengths, not your weaknesses. Acknowledge your weaknesses and figure out how to work around them, but don’t let them stop you from doing what you want to do. Sam Altman
If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think. T. Harv Eker
Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. M. Scott Peck
The starting point of building your self-esteem is for you to have a clear sense of who you are and what you want. Brian Tracy
Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction. Margaret Thatcher
Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. August Wilson
Don’t tell yourself some bullsh*t story about you can’t do this or that. Don’t even allow yourself to say you’re not good enough. Sure, maybe you can’t do something yet, and maybe you’ll never be the greatest of all time. But who gives a sh*t? Tom Bilyeu
Eliminate the need to be liked. Replace it with the intention to be of service, whether to others, something you believe in, or your highest self. Neil Strauss
Live as if you’re alone in the world. No one is watching you. You don’t have to please anyone or live up to their expectations or fear their judgment. @TheAncientSage
Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. Eleanor Roosevelt
Encourage yourself, support yourself, and celebrate every little thing about yourself. Iyanla Vanzant
Related: Self-Esteem: Influences, Traits, and How to Improve It (verywellmind.com)
Funny Self-Esteem Quotes
Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20. Tom Bilyeu
Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your handbreak on. Maxwell Maltz
Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only. Samuel Butler
No matter how hard you try, there is always some guy or girl who achieves more. My attitude is, so what? Does any of us need to be at the very top of the whole world? It’s ridiculous. Charlie Munger
The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. Robert Hughes
Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember: the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you. Zig Ziglar
Deep Self-Esteem Quotes
The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself. Rita Mae Brown
Never make this mistake of thinking that you elevate yourself by humiliating people. Robert Greene
If you care too much about being praised, in the end you will not accomplish anything serious. Leo Tolstoy (A Calendar Of Wisdom, Amazon book)
A human being wants something that will fill the holes he feels within himself. James Pierce
It takes great personal courage to let yourself appear weak. David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest)
The best way to be miserable is by comparing yourself to others. Shane Parrish (Source)
Don’t discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose; if you belittle yourself, you are believed; if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved. Michel de Montaigne
If you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re missing out on the best joke of all. Ed Latimore
A combination of self-doubt, giving up too early, and not pushing hard enough prevents most people from ever reaching anywhere near their potential. Sam Altman
For most people the most difficult thing is to be comfortable with themselves. Loneliness and silence are poetry to some, but hell to most. Thibaut
When you’re lazy you avoid the hard work necessary to build lasting self-esteem. Maxime Lagacé
A man who says, ‘I want to change, tell me how to’, seems very earnest, very serious, but he is not. He wants an authority whom he hopes will bring about order in himself. Jiddu Krishnamurti
Nothing so blights our self-esteem as to disapprove of what we once approved. François de La Rochefoucauld
When someone bases their self-esteem on the approval of others, they are abandoning themselves. It is an exhausting and powerless way to live. Neil Strauss
Everyone is lying – about what they make, about how confident they feel, about how hard they work, about how well things are going. Stop comparing yourself to these lies. Stop thinking about them at all. Ryan Holiday
Never tolerate disrespect or you might start believing you deserved it. Carlos Del Valle
Related: Self-Esteem (5 minutes YouTube video by The School of Life)
Wise Self-Esteem Quotes
The foundation for self-esteem is self-understanding. Maxime Lagacé
Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. James Clear
Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself. Friedrich Nietzsche
If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own. Epictetus
When you intimately understand yourself, it never crosses your mind to seek for perfection or validation. Adamas Shivananda (Source)
Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me. Audre Lorde
The trick is to think highly of yourself without thinking you’re higher than everyone else. Ed Latimore (edlatimore.com)
When people appear to be something other than good and decent, it is only because they are reacting to stress, pain, or the deprivation of basic human needs such as security, love, and self-esteem. Abraham Maslow
Don’t base your identity on your imperfection. You aren’t your imperfections, you are the being that is aware of your imperfections. Haemin Sunim
Pay respect that you may be respected, and know that to be esteemed you must show esteem. Baltasar Gracián
Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own? Brigham Young
If you boast, you will have no merit. If you promote yourself, you will have no success. Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching, Amazon book)
Part 3. Conclusion
You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing. You don’t have to do anything to earn it. Your shortcomings, your lack of self-esteem, physical perfection, or social and economic success – none of that matters. No one can take this love away from you, and it will always be here. Ram Dass
Key Takeaways
- Want higher self-esteem? Remember most people don’t care. And most people are not watching you.
- The most precious thing in the world? Who you are inside.
- Keep in mind:
- Everyone has doubts
- Everyone is struggling with something
- The benefits of high self-esteem?
- You stop seeking attention
- You stop being a spectator
- You start creating your life
- There’s a difference between high self-esteem and arrogance. So never forget: humility is beauty.
Further Readings
- Topic: Happiness
- 81 Happiness Quotes That Will Light Up Your Day 😄
- The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden (6-minute YouTube video by FightMediocrity)
- 100 Mental Health Quotes To Comfort, Encourage, Inspire
- 65 Acceptance Quotes To Help You Embrace Life Fully
- 83 Serenity Quotes To Bring Quietude Into Your Life
- 130 Maturity Quotes To Make You Steady And Calm
Hope you liked these beautiful self-esteem quotes. If you did, please share them with a friend today!
Do you have good self-esteem? What’s your favorite self-esteem quote? And remember: words can transform your life, if you find the right ones.
Table Of Contents
Part 1
Top 15 Images
Best Quotes
Part 2
Self-Esteem Quotes That ARE
Famous
Short
Inspirational
Helpful
Funny
Deep
Wise
Part 3
Conclusion
