19 Self-Esteem Quotes That Will Make You Smile

Have you ever looked at somebody with complete adoration, appreciation, and awe? Have you ever loved someone even through their bad times? Always believed in their character and who they were?

Have you ever considered making that person yourself?

It’s easy to see great things in others, and much harder to find the good within ourselves. As Maya Angelou said, “The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.” But at the end of the day, you should be your biggest priority!

Low self-esteem isn’t limited to any one kind of person. Even CEOs of billion-dollar companies worry about “being found out” and “losing it all.”

We could all use a positive attitude boost every once in a while. If that’s how you’re feeling today, don’t sweat it. Confidence is within your reach!

Check out some of these inspiring self-esteem quotes in the meantime!

1. Don’t Doubt the Universe

“the universe took its time on you
crafted you precisely
so you could offer the world
something distinct from everyone else
so when you doubt
how you were created
you doubt an energy greater than us both”

Poet Rupi Kaur explains that self-doubt is detrimental to the Universe’s divine plan.

2. Love Yourself First

Rupi Kaur hits the nail on the head again. Check out this beautiful, short poem about treating yourself with love.

“how you love yourself
is how you teach others
to love you”

3. Forgive Yourself

Playwright August Wilson offers some advice for getting through the dark times.

“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.”

4. Advice from a Starlet

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”

Marilyn Monroe understood that every person is unique. Envying another’s existence is a waste of your own!

5. One Step at a Time

Author Laurie Halse Anderson wrote: “There is no magic cure, no making it all go away forever. There are only small steps upward; an easier day, an unexpected laugh, a mirror that doesn’t matter anymore.”

So if you’re feeling like self-love is taking its time, that’s okay. Have patience with yourself. It will come.

6. “Self Confidence Is the Best Outfit.”

We don’t know who said this quote, but we agree. Self-love never goes out of style!

7. We Are Everything

Ralph Waldo Emerson wants us to look within ourselves for all the power we need. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

8. Self Love Isn’t Selfish!

Author Parker Palmer had to learn this, too. “Self-care is never a selfish act–it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.”

9. Learn to Value Yourself

As if you could make the top of the Forbes list!

“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” And if we’re going to trust anyone to explain value, it’s the entrepreneur Malcom S. Forbes.

10. Strength and Resilience

Being confident doesn’t mean displaying your strength 24/7. Sometimes your strength is lying in wait until the moment when you really need it. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”

11. Enjoy Your Company

Because if you don’t enjoy your own, how can you expect someone else to?

Eclectic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg says, “You’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.” And we agree.

12. Be in Love with Yourself

Because after all, as Oscar Wilde put it, “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”

13. The Psychology of Love

Psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung said, “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

14. Take a Trip

To the land of self-love. . . or the valley of change.

Take it from inspirational author Shannon L. Adler. “Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.”

15. No Substitute for Love

This is why even CEOs and celebrities can suffer from bouts of low self-esteem. Because even riches cannot replace the feelings induced by love.

Teacher Gary Zukav says: “Scarcity of self-value cannot be remedied by money, recognition, affection, attention or influence.”

16. “You Yourself, as Much as Anybody in the Entire Universe, Deserve Your Love and Affection.”

And who doesn’t trust what Buddha has to say?

17. Take It from the Relationship Consultant

Barbara De Angelis says a good relationship with yourself leads to a better relationship with another.

“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.”

18. One Last Rupi Kaur Quote

“if you were born with
the weakness to fall
you were born with
the strength to rise”

So even when you’re down and out – you still have the gumption to get back up. Try it!

19. Love Your Shadows

Because we’re walking in and out of the light and the dark until the day we die. So we may as well learn to love them both. Our complexities add to our allure!

“I am not looking to escape my darkness. I’m learning to love myself here.”

Poet Rune Lazuli is learning to love the darkness.

Self-Esteem Quotes for Anyone – Any Time

Next time, don’t wait until you’re feeling low before reaching out. Take preventative measures to keep your mental health in check.

Self-esteem is something we learn to develop as children. That means that no matter how young or old you may be, you can benefit from a healthy dose of self-esteem quotes.

Want to keep riding the confidence train? Check out these 5 simple but effective methods for boosting self-esteem!