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17 inspirational quotes from women making history right now

They'll inspire you to do more for yourself and others.

Victoria Rodriguez

and

Chase DiBenedetto

on March 15, 2022

Michelle Obama speaks to a crowd at an American Library Association event.

These quotes from Greta Thunberg, Kamala Harris, and more will inspire you this Women's History Month. Credit: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images

If you're in need of inspiration on how to make a difference, there are plenty of women role models to turn to. No matter what you're interested in, whether that's gun control, girls' education, or racial justice, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate the women who've come before you, so you can better understand how to follow in their footsteps.

Here are 17 quotes from female activists, politicians, and celebrities that will get you fired up to change the world.

1. Janelle Monáe, singer and actor

"Women will be hidden no more. We will not remain hidden figures. We have names."

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2. Malala Yousafzai, education activist

"I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard."

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3. Mari Copeny, clean water activist

"It's ok to build somebody up without tearing others down at the same time."

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4. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex

"Women don’t need to find their voice. They need to feel empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen."

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5. Hillary Clinton, 2016 presidential candidate

"When women are held back, our country is held back. When women get ahead, everyone gets ahead."

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6. Michelle Obama, former first lady

"You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages."

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7. Emma Watson, actor

"Women feel like we need permission... We need to lead and change that."

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8. Naomi Wadler, gun control activist

"I urge everyone here and everyone who hears my voice to join me in telling the stories that aren't told. To honor the girls, the women of color, who are murdered at disproportionate rates in this nation. I urge each of you to help me write the narrative for this world and understand, so that these girls and women are never forgotten."

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9. Oprah Winfrey, media personality

"What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud, and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories."

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10. Sarah McBride, State Senator and former national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign

"We cannot have equality for all if we have an economy that only works for the wealthy few, but we also cannot have an economy that works for everyone if even one person is kept out of a job because of hate."

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11. Zendaya, actor

"A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It’s equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of."

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12. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, actor

"People have this idea of how trans women of color, trans women, and women in general are supposed to navigate this world. I want to break that down. I want people to see what I am before I’m trans, before I’m Black, before I’m Latina. I want people to see I’m human."

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13. Deb Haaland, United States Secretary of the Interior

"If we're not protecting our women and we're not protecting our girls and we're not protecting the most vulnerable people in this society, who are we as a country?"

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14. Greta Thunberg, youth climate activist

"We can no longer let people in power decide what hope is. Hope is not passive. Hope is not ‘blah blah blah.’ Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people."

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15. Simone Biles, Olympic gymnast

"I don't have to be fine. I can be pissed off for now. I can be mad. I can be angry. I can be joyful…"

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16. Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States

"To the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before. And we will applaud you every step of the way."

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17. Megan Rapinoe, professional soccer player and activist

"Real change lies within all of us. It is in the choices we make every day. It's in how we talk, who we hire, and what we permit others to say in our presence. It's in reading more, thinking more, considering a different perspective. At its simplest, it's in whether we're willing to spend even five minutes a day thinking about how we can make the world better."

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UPDATE: Mar. 15, 2022, 6:00 a.m. EDT This story was originally published in March 2019. It was updated with new quotes and republished in March 2022.

Topics Activism Social Good Celebrities

Chase sits in front of a green framed window, wearing a cheetah print shirt and looking to her right. On the window's glass pane reads "Ricas's Tostadas" in red lettering.

Chase DiBenedetto

Social Good Reporter

Chase joined Mashable's Social Good team in 2020, covering online stories about digital activism, climate justice, accessibility, and media representation. Her work also captures how these conversations manifest in politics, popular culture, and fandom. Sometimes she's very funny.