International Women's Day—11 inspirational quotes from strong women

Inspirational International Women's Day quotes celebrate the wise insights from strong women across the globe and this year's theme, #BreakTheBias, encourages us to challenge stereotypes and discrimination.

As many of us wish each other a happy International Women’s Day on March 8th, there’s never been a better time to celebrate not only the wonderful women in your own life, but those making strides across the globe. Alongside the brilliant Women’s History Month quotes that have been circulating already in March, International Women’s Day sees the wisdom of so many inspirational and strong women rise to the forefront of our minds. 

Every day presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate women making strides, sharing their love, and simply living. But every year International Women’s Day gives us all that extra chance to put women at the forefront and clap for every single one of the circa four billion females living on our earth. 

Just like we send wishes to mothers, fathers, and our significant others on their special days, March 8 is a day to hold up the women who are doing brilliant things, both big and small.

From those who stand independent as they hold their families together to those who are breaking barriers and heading up female-run brands and charitable initiatives, who are showing love and care, who are sharing everything they have, who are killing it in both the foreground and background, all of these inspirational women deserve to be celebrated. 

This important annual day has taken place for over a century now, with the first International Women's Day gathering taking place way back in 1911, when it was supported by more than a million people.

"International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women," says the International Women's Day organization (opens in new tab). "The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality."

According to the organization, the aim of the day is to "celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about women's equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities".

In celebration of this year's theme, #BreakTheBias, the organization declared, "Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias."

Here we share some of the most inspirational International Women's Day quotes from strong women to make you feel empowered and independent this year.

International Women's Day quotes from strong women

"There's no limit as to what we, as women, can accomplish." Michelle Obama 

"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception." Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

"There is no force more powerful, than a woman determined to rise." Bosa Sebele

"I don't know a woman alive who isn't courageous." Reese Witherspoon

"No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anyone but oneself." Virginia Woolf

"Well-behaved women seldom make history." Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"A girl should be two things: who and what she wants." Coco Chanel

"I'm tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay." Madonna

"When a man gives his opinion, he's a man; when a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch." Bette Davis

"Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all." Hillary Clinton

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt