120 Quotes to Boost Confidence and Raise Self-esteem [Tips]11 min read

A selection of top 120 inspirational thoughts to boost your confidence and self-esteem to encourage you to believe more in yourself. I have personally chosen the best amongst 1500 quotes. These quotes do not assume any belief on your part.

=> At the bottom of this page, you can download the free PDF for easy reference.

Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong. ― Peter T. Mcintyre

You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do. ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. ― Bernard M. Baruch

The Flea that doubts doesn’t jump nearly as high.― Marty Robin

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. ― Edward Everett Hale

You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It’s their mistake, not my failing. ― Richard Feynman

Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you. ― Cynthia Kersey

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

No name-calling truly bites deep unless, in some dark part of us, we believe it. If we are confident enough then it is just noise. ― Laurell K. Hamilton

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. ― Michelangelo Buonarroti

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. ― Norman Vincent Peale

Reputation is what others think of us; character is what God knows of us. ― Shannon L. Alder

To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength. ― Criss Jami

Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got. ― Sophia Loren

There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity. ― Samuel Johnson

One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself. ― Shannon L. Alder

Because of the self-confidence with which he had spoken, no one could tell whether what he said was very clever or very stupid. ― Leo Tolstoy

Being different is a revolving door in your life where secure people enter and insecure exit. ― Shannon L. Alder

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. ― Bertrand Russell

The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off. ― Robert Hand

21

There are two circumstances that lead to arrogance: one is when you’re wrong and you can’t face it; the other is when you’re right and nobody else can face it. ― Criss Jami

Let others determine your worth and you’re already lost, because no one wants people worth more than themselves. ― Peter V. Brett

The intelligent people are the ones so intelligent that they don’t even need or want to look intelligent anymore. ― Criss Jami

The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone. ― Henrik Ibsen

When someone tells me ‘no’, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it; it simply means, I can’t do it with them. ― Karen E. Quinones Miller

Always Remember to take your Vitamins: Take your Vitamin A for ACTION, Vitamin B for Belief, Vitamin C for Confidence, Vitamin D for Discipline, Vitamin E for Enthusiasm! ― Pablo

The biggest and only critic lives in your perception of people’s perception of you rather than people’s perception of you. ― Criss Jami

When they say the sky is the limit to me that is really true. ― Michael Jackson

Beethoven said that it’s better to hit the wrong note confidently, than hit the right note unconfidently. Never be afraid to be wrong or to embarrass yourself; we are all students in this life, and there is always something more to learn. ― Mike Norton

If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning. ― Gandhi

I am not the moon orbiting around your planet; I am the sun that will burn through your frozen mind. ― Shannon L. Alder

You won’t ever build your confidence from a perception of lack. For it grows and evolves from realising who you are and what you already have. ― Rasheed Ogunlaru

If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that I believe in what I do, and I’ll say it. ― John Lennon

I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others. ― Marcus Aurelius

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. ― Marianne Williamson

The only power that exists is inside ourselves. ― Anne Rice

A young outcast will often feel that there is something wrong with himself, but as he gets older, grows more confident in who he is, he will adapt, he will begin to feel that there is something wrong with everyone else. ― Criss Jami

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. ― E.E. Cummings

Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to the solution. ― David J. Schwartz

If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win. ― Carl Lewis

41

Self-respect, self-worth and self-love, all start with self. Stop looking outside of yourself for your value. ― Rob Liano

I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world. ― Meryl Streep

They may try to stop you by their words and deeds, but like air you will rise above it all. You are unstoppable. ― Bernard Kelvin Clive

The important thing isn’t what other people think you are; it’s who you are. ― Shannon L. Alder

Walk amongst the natives by day, but in your heart be Superman. ― Gene Simmons

Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable. ― Walt Disney

An exceedingly confident student, would in theory, make a terrible student. Why would he take school seriously when he feels that he can outwit his teachers? ― Criss Jami

Maybe if I act well enough, I’ll come to believe it myself. ― Garth Nix

Staying silent is like a slow growing cancer to the soul and a trait of a true coward. There is nothing intelligent about not standing up for yourself. You may not win every battle. However, everyone will at least know what you stood for – YOU. ― Shannon L. Alder

The problem isn’t that I think so highly of myself. It is just that you think so little of yourself. Live life big, bold and out loud! ― Shannon L. Alder

The devil’s happy when the critics run you off. ― Criss Jami

The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little. ― Thomas Merton

Most people just want to see you fall, that’s more reason to stand tall. ― Emma Michelle

Role models are only of limited use. For no-one is as important, potentially powerful and as key in your life and world as you. ― Rasheed Ogunlaru

Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. ― Lao Tzu

Don’t be surprised by your greatness. Be surprised that no one expected it. ― Rebecca Maizel

Confidence is like a dragon where, for every head cut off, two more heads grow back. ― Criss Jami

Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening. ― Nelson Mandela

Being brave enough to be alone frees you up to invite people into your life because you want them and not because you need them. ― Mandy Hale

Confidence turns into pride only when you are in denial of your mistakes. ― Criss Jami

61

You are the community now. Be a lamp for yourselves. Be your own refuge. Seek for no other. All things must pass. Strive on diligently. Don’t give up. ― Gautama Buddha

One of life’s best lessons was not being afraid to look foolish – to just ask the question. ― Melissa Senate

The tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. ― Anderson Cooper

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win a prize. ― Napoleon Hill

My mind may be sober, but my confidence is high! ― Habeeb Akande

A winner is not someone who wins. It’s someone who tries and isn’t afraid to lose. ― Nusrat Sultana

There are two things essential if you want to enhance your Jedi self-confidence: belief that it is possible and that self-help is the best help. ― Stephen Richards

Stand up for what is right, regardless of who is committing the wrong. ― Suzy Kassem

Once you feel nice about yourself, you have planted the first seed to develop self-confidence. ― Stephen Richards

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. ― Henry David Thoreau

A great man is always willing to be little. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear. ― Taylor Swift

I didn’t allow other people to dictate how I should feel or act. I learned there was no shame in imperfection because history had shown being different had the power to change perspectives and eventually the world. ― Shannon L. Alder

Your greatness is revealed not by the lights that shine upon you, but by the light that shines within you. ― Ray A. Davis

The church says the earth is flat but I have seen its (round) shadow on the moon. I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the church. ― Ferdinand Magellan

Sometimes, some lies that spoken with high confidence could be more receptive than facts that spoken with doubt. ― Toba Beta

If you truly feel that self-esteem and motivation have to happen first before you can make changes in your life, then we’ll probably be sharing walkers at a retirement home as we talk over what might have been. ― Shannon L. Alder

If You believe in yourself you can reach everything you want. ― Kees Broos

You can be confident and secure and know that you do a good job at what you do but you don’t have to be arrogant about it. ― Ruben Studdard

Pride without competence is as much a sin as competence without confidence. ― Peter Tremayne

81

Sometimes, God doesn’t send you into a battle to win it; he sends you to end it. ― Shannon L. Alder

True confidence is not about what you take from someone to restore yourself, but what you give back to your critics because they need it more than you do. ― Shannon L. Alder

I never feel unsafe except for when the majority is on my side. ― Criss Jami

There is nothing about you to be embarrassed about. ― S.C. Stephens

I love the challenge of starting at zero every day and seeing how much I can accomplish. ― Martha Stewart

The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you. — William Jennings Bryan

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. — J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

With confidence, you have won before you have started. — Marcus Garvey

I think that the power is the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence when you look back and see what you’ve done. — Robert Downey

My theory was that if I behaved like a confident, cheerful person, eventually I would buy it myself, and become that. I always had traces of strength somewhere inside me, it wasn’t fake, it was just a way of summoning my courage to the fore and not letting any creeping self-doubt hinder my adventures. It’s the process of having faith in the self you don’t quite know you are yet. Believing that you will find the strength, the means somehow, and trusting in that, although your legs are like jelly. You can still walk on them and you will find the bones as you walk. Yes, that’s it. The further I walk, the stronger I become. ― Dawn French

You can have regret from yesterday, fear tomorrow, but peace today by sharing your heart’s deepest feelings. A life spent being fearful of showing your soul is a life not worth living. ― Shannon L. Alder

If it’s a million to one shot, I’ll make sure I’m one. — Razorlight

If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. ― Rosalynn Carter

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do. ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have imagined. — Henry David Thoreau

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. — Coco Chanel

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do. — Dr. Benjamin Spock

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. — Helen Keller

When you’re different, sometimes you don’t see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn’t. — Jodi Picoult

Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. — Christopher Robin

101

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Mark Twain

If you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything. — Katy Perry

Lack of confidence, sometimes alternating with unrealistic dreams of heroic success, often leads to procrastination; rather than risk failure, they prefer to create conditions that make success impossible, a reflex that of course creates a vicious cycle. ― James Surowiecki

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am convinced that the jealous, the angry, the bitter and the egotistical are the first to race to the top of mountains. A confident person enjoys the journey, the people they meet along the way and sees life not as a competition. They reach the summit last because they know God isn’t at the top waiting for them. He is down below helping his followers to understand that the view is glorious where ever you stand. ― Shannon L. Alder

The secret of a man’s strength and his pathway to true honor is his ability to admit fault when he has failed. God wants to fill the church with men who can say they are wrong when they are wrong. A man who is willing to humble himself before God and his family and say: ‘I was wrong.’ will find that his family has all the confidence in the world in him and will much more readily follow him. If he stubbornly refuses to repent or admit he was wrong, their confidence in him and in his leadership erodes. ― Jim Anderson

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go. — Dr. Seuss

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her. — Laozi

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. — Dale Carnegie

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation. ― Arthur Ashe

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Always be yourself and have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and try to duplicate it. — Bruce Lee

Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them. — T. Harv Eker

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. —  Thomas Jefferson

Confidence is a habit that can be developed by acting as if you already had the confidence you desire to have. — Brian Tracy

You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you can’t have it. — Dr. Robert Anthony

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

Pride is holding your head up when everyone around you has theirs bowed. Courage is what makes you do it. — Bryce Courtenay

It takes strength to be proud of yourself and to accept yourself when you know that you have something out of the ordinary about you. ― Abigail Tarttelin

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


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