140 Self-Esteem Quotes

Here are 140 of the best self-esteem quotes I could find. Keep in mind that having true self-confidence is a long process, but if you keep going, things can change. 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 quotes and topics: love yourself, courage, inner peace

The Best Self-Esteem Quotes

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The only thing that matters in life, is your own opinion about yourself. Osho

Respect your uniqueness, and drop comparison. Relax into your being. 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

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

Measure your self-worth not with the balance of your bank account but with the frequency of your generosity. Haemin Sunim

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.)

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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

Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. Marilyn Monroe

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

If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney

Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. Mufasa (The Lion King)

When you find out who you are, you find out what you need. Mama Odie (The Princess and The Frog)

If you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth, but you’ve got to be willing to take the hits. Rocky Balboa

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

Nothing has transformed my life more than realizing that it’s a waste of time to evaluate my worthiness by weighing the reaction of the people in the stands. Brené Brown

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

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One-liners, short self-esteem quotes, sayings, thoughts and captions for your bio, social status, self-talk, motto, mantra, signs, posters, wallpapers, 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

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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

Self-belief is immensely powerful. The most successful people I know believe in themselves almost to the point of delusion. Sam Altman

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

When you truly understand your worth, you feel an obligation to give your gift to the world. Bill Masur

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

Want more inspiring quotes? Please check out Positive Quotes That Will Make Your Day Wonderful

See also: 8 Steps to Improving Your Self-Esteem (psychologytoday.com)

Helpful And Encouraging Self-Esteem Quotes

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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

Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions… Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it. Tina Fey

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

Nobody can say anything about you. Whatsoever people say is about themselves. But you become very shaky, because you are still clinging to a false center. That false center depends on others, so you are always looking to what people are saying about you. Osho

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

See also: Quick guide to self-esteem (verywellmind.com)

Funny And Surprising Self-Esteem Quotes

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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 (Some Will Make You Think Hard)

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The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself. Rita Mae Brown

It is weakness that is the source of all selfishness. Swami Vivekananda

Never make this mistake of thinking that you elevate yourself by humiliating people. Robert Greene

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)

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

We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us. We’re afraid that our truth isn’t enough – that what we have to offer isn’t enough without the bells and whistles, without editing, and impressing. Brené Brown

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

See also: Self-Esteem (5 minutes YouTube video by The School of Life)

Wise Self-Esteem Quotes (Words of Wisdom)

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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

Praise is not something to be sought. One shouldn’t welcome it, rather be indifferent to it. It’s a trap. If you accept the praise of someone you’re henceforth their slave. You have to live up to that person’s image of you. You’re not free to just be yourself. @TheAncientSage

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

You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness. Brené Brown

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

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

Learn to deflect envy by drawing attention away from yourself. Develop your sense of self-worth from internal standards and not incessant comparisons. Robert Greene

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

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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

Call to action: Watch The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden (6 minutes YouTube video by FightMediocrity)