Coco Chanel, a pioneer in redefining self-expression, believed that confidence is the best outfit anyone can wear.
However, just like clothes, confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you create. Whether you're facing self-doubt, chasing a big goal, or simply need a reminder of your inner strength, the right words can make all the difference. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, 'Whatever you do, dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.' These 87 confidence-boosting quotes from world-renowned thinkers, authors, and leaders will inspire you to trust yourself, take action, and step into your power.
Key takeaways
Confidence is essential for achieving success and driving ambition and resilience in the face of obstacles.
Incorporating confidence quotes into daily life can boost self-esteem and foster a positive mindset. Books like 'The Inner Game of Tennis' by W. Timothy Gallwey, available in Headway's library, show how mindset shifts can drastically improve performance and self-trust.
Engaging in daily confidence-boosting exercises and self-care practices builds a strong foundation of self-worth and helps overcome self-doubt. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said,
'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.'
The science behind the role of confidence in achieving success
Confidence is not merely a personal trait but a foundational element influencing success across multiple areas of life. A comprehensive review from the University of California, Davis, found that individuals with high self-esteem experience greater success in education and careers, better social relationships, and improved mental and physical health. These benefits persist from adolescence into adulthood, highlighting the long-term advantages of self-confidence.
In the academic realm, a study published in Social Psychology of Education examined factors contributing to academic success in online higher education. The findings revealed that academic self-efficacy and self-esteem are significant predictors of academic performance, emphasizing the role of self-belief in educational achievements.
These studies affirm that confidence is not merely a personal trait but a foundational element influencing success across multiple areas of life. Cultivating self-belief empowers individuals to set ambitious goals, persist through challenges, and ultimately achieve personal and professional fulfillment. Michelle Obama, who has often spoken about the power of self-confidence, once noted that success isn't about how much money you make but about the difference you make in people's lives. She echoes the wisdom of Marcus Garvey, who believed that self-confidence is the key to unlocking greatness.
Personal development literature deeply explores this idea. In 'Outwitting the Devil,' Napoleon Hill examines how fear and self-doubt create mental roadblocks that prevent people from achieving their full potential. Similarly, in 'Relentless,' Tim S. Grover breaks down the mindset of top performers, emphasizing how unwavering confidence and resilience drive success. You can explore their insights and glean practical takeaways from other personal growth books with Headway, which makes applying these principles in everyday life much easier.
Now, let's explore 87 confidence-boosting quotes for you to live by.
87 inspirational quotes to live by
From timeless thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Cicero to modern leaders like Michelle Obama and Tina Fey, self-confidence has been a cornerstone of success across generations. Whether you're looking for motivation, wisdom on self-love, or a reminder of the power of the human spirit, these quotes will help you embrace your strengths and silence your self-doubt.
"Stop waiting for permission." — Tim S. Grover
"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." — Paulo Coelho
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"Letting go of judgments makes it easier to see the facts." — W. Timothy Gallwey, 'The Inner Game of Tennis'
Get into details with a full summary of 'The Inner Game of Tennis' by W. Timothy Gallwey on Headway.
5 "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." — Zig Ziglar
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't — you're right." — Henry Ford
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." — Maya Angelou
"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." — Norman Vincent Peale
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." — Oscar Wilde
"I am always doing what I cannot do yet to learn how to do it." — Vincent van Gogh
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Courage is grace under pressure." — Ernest Hemingway
"Fear is the tool of a man-made devil." — Napoleon Hill
"You keep going until you get it done. And then you go further." — Tim S. Grover, 'Relentless'
Take a closer look at the summary of 'Relentless' by Tim S. Grover on Headway.
15 "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill
"Your faith in yourself must be greater than your fear." — Jen Sincero
"The wound is the place where the light enters you." — Rumi
"The things that make me different are the things that make me." — Christopher Robin
"You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page." — Jodi Picoult
"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock
"Never dull your shine for somebody else." — Tyra Banks
"The capacity to surmount failure without being discouraged is the chief asset of every person who attains outstanding success in any calling." — Napoleon Hill, 'Outwitting the Devil'
Read more in the full summary of 'Outwitting the Devil' by Napoleon Hill on Headway.
23 "Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness." — Oprah Winfrey
"Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today." — Jordan B. Peterson
"The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." —Paulo Coelho
"Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping." —Jordan B. Peterson
"Effortless action leads to the best performance." —W. Timothy Gallwey
"Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart." — Roy T. Bennett
"Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit." — Napoleon Hill
"To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open." — Jordan B. Peterson
"We have a choice. We can choose to take every thought captive." — Jennie Allen
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up." — Vince Lombardi
"Leap and the net will appear." — Julia Cameron
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." — Paulo Coelho
"Nothing changes until we stop believing the lies that hold us back." — Jennie Allen
"You are perfect. To think anything less is as pointless as a river thinking that it's got too many curves." — Jen Sincero, 'You Are a Badass'
Boost your intelligence with the summary of 'You Are a Badass' by Jen Sincero on Headway.
37 "People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of." — Paulo Coelho
"Believe you can, and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." — Eleanor Roosevelt
"You did not wake up to be mediocre." — Peloton instructor Robin Arzón
"Serious art is born from serious play." — Julia Cameron
"Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game, and an inner game." — W. Timothy Gallwey, 'The Inner Game of Tennis'
Get into the core of things in the summary of 'The Inner Game of Tennis' by W. Timothy Gallwey on Headway.
43 "Failure is a man-made circumstance. It is never real until accepted by man as permanent." — Napoleon Hill
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." — Eleanor Roosevelt
"Your only limitation is the one which you set up in your own mind." — Napoleon Hill
"You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it." — Jen Sincero, 'You Are a Badass'
Learn more in the full summary of 'You Are a Badass' by Jen Sincero on Headway.
47 "Let go of who you think you're supposed to be; embrace who you are." — Brené Brown
"The opponent within one's own head is more formidable than the one on the other side of the net." — W. Timothy Gallwey
"The enemy's goal is to get in your head so he can keep you from living out the goodness of God." — Jennie Allen
"Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy." — Julia Cameron
"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control." — Julia Cameron
"Don't wait until you know who you are to get started." — Julia Cameron
"Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we're supposed to be and embracing who we are." — Brené Brown, 'The Gifts of Imperfection'
Embrace your weaknesses and turn them into strengths with the summary of 'The Gifts of Imperfection' by Brené Brown on Headway.
54 "Freedom begins in our thoughts." — Jennie Allen
"You're going to pay a price for every bloody thing you do and everything you don't do." — Jordan B. Peterson
"The greatest spiritual battle of our generation is being fought between our ears." — Jennie Allen
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." — Albert Einstein
"Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change." — Brené Brown
"Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)." — Jordan B. Peterson
"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do." — Brené Brown
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway." — Eleanor Roosevelt
"One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." — Paulo Coelho
"What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them." — Jen Sincero
"Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you." — Tim S. Grover
"Never apologize for who you are." — Jen Sincero, 'You Are a Badass'
Read more in the full summary of 'You Are a Badass' by Jen Sincero on Headway.
66 "You can't excel at anything until you first train your mind." — Tim S. Grover
"The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible." — Joel Brown
"Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best." — Christian D. Larson
"Happiness depends upon ourselves." — Aristotle
"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." — George Addair
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." — William James
"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." — Suzy Kassem
"Decide. Commit. Act. Succeed. Repeat." — Tim S. Grover, 'Relentless'
Save helpful ideas from the summary of 'Relentless' by Tim S. Grover on Headway.
74 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." — Henry David Thoreau
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." — Helen Keller
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." — Steve Jobs
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." — Robin Williams
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." — Louisa May Alcott
"There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing." — Aristotle
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear." — Mark Twain
"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." — Dale Carnegie
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." — Confucius
"Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we're all in this together." — Brené Brown, 'The Gifts of Imperfection'
Get inspired by the full summary of 'The Gifts of Imperfection' by Brené Brown on Headway.
85 "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." — Arthur Ashe
"Everything you can imagine is real." — Pablo Picasso
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." — Buddha
How to apply these self-confidence quotes to daily life
Reading confidence-boosting quotes can be inspiring, but their impact comes from applying them to daily life. Building confidence is not about a single moment of motivation — it requires consistent action and intentional habits. Remember: if you don't take control of your life, someone else will. Here are practical ways to integrate these quotes into daily routines and turn inspiration into lasting self-belief.
1. Use daily affirmations to strengthen your mindset
Self-talk plays a crucial role in shaping confidence. Turning powerful quotes into daily affirmations makes it possible to train your mind to focus on self-belief instead of self-doubt.
Example: If imposter syndrome is a struggle, repeat:
"You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it." — Jen Sincero
Action points:
Write a confidence-boosting quote on sticky notes and place them in visible locations such as a bathroom mirror, desk, or phone wallpaper.
Repeat affirmations out loud each morning to reinforce a strong mindset.
Use them as a mantra before important meetings, interviews, or challenges.
2. Practice visualization to reinforce self-belief
Visualization is a powerful way to build confidence. Bruce Lee famously said, 'As you think, so shall you become.' Picturing yourself achieving your goals reinforces the belief that success is possible. Peter T. McIntyre echoed this sentiment when he said, "Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."
Example: If fear is holding back action, reflect on this quote:
"You keep going until you get it done. And then you go further." — Tim S. Grover
Action points:
Close your eyes and picture yourself delivering a great presentation, handling a difficult conversation, or stepping outside your comfort zone.
Imagine the details — posture, tone of voice, and the feeling of success.
Set aside a few minutes each morning to visualize success in upcoming challenges.
3. Self-reflection: Journal your growth
Journaling is a great way to develop self-awareness and reinforce self-confidence. J.M. Barrie wrote, "The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it." This aligns with E.E. Cummings' belief that "once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit."
Example: If self-doubt is a recurring issue, journal about this quote:
"Believe you can, and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt
Action points:
Start a confidence journal to document challenges and how you overcame them.
Reflect on one small success each day, no matter how minor.
Choose a quote that resonates and write about how it applies to your current situation.
4. Take action: Turn inspiration into reality
Confidence builds through action. The more challenges are faced, the stronger self-belief becomes. Instead of just reading confidence quotes, use them as motivation to take action.
Example: If hesitation is preventing forward movement, consider this quote:
"Leap and the net will appear." — Julia Cameron
Action points:
Identify one fear holding you back and take a small step toward overcoming it today.
Challenge yourself to speak up in a meeting, try something new, or step outside your comfort zone.
Recognize and celebrate small victories to reinforce the habit of confidence-building actions.
5. Surround yourself with positivity
Confidence thrives in an environment of encouragement and inspiration. Curating a space that reinforces a positive mindset can make a significant difference.
Example: If external opinions are creating self-doubt, remember this quote:
"What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them." — Jen Sincero.
Action points:
Follow books, podcasts, and resources that promote confidence and self-growth.
Record favorite quotes in a journal or notes app to revisit when motivation is low.
Spend time with people who inspire and challenge personal growth.
Use Headway summaries to build your confidence
Confidence grows with consistent learning, self-reflection, and intentional action. It’s a journey, not a destination. Thomas Edison's belief that 'many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up' and Marie Curie's unwavering pursuit of knowledge historically prove that resilience and self-belief pave the way for greatness. While quotes inspire, lasting confidence comes from understanding new perspectives, developing skills, and applying knowledge in everyday life.
Headway's book summaries provide concise, actionable insights from the world's best personal development books. Engaging with key takeaways on mindset, self-discipline, and overcoming fear reinforces a confident outlook and habits that lead to growth.
With just 15 minutes a day, you can absorb life-changing lessons from books like 'The Gifts of Imperfection' by Brené Brown, 'You Are a Badass' by Jen Sincero, and 'The Inner Game of Tennis' by W. Timothy Gallwey. These summaries break down complex ideas into practical steps, making applying confidence-boosting strategies in your daily routine easier.
Building confidence isn't about waiting for motivation — it's about continuous learning, taking action, and developing a mindset that supports success. With Headway, you have a resource that helps you stay on track, push past self-doubt, and build the habits that lead to lasting self-assurance.
