Maya Angelou, the acclaimed American poet and civil rights activist, imparted a stirring message on self-love. Angelou recognized that embracing oneself is a journey marked by resilience and authenticity. She emphasized that acknowledging and appreciating one’s worth is the cornerstone of personal growth.
Angelou’s life, filled with challenges overcome, exemplified the transformative power of self-love. Her words, “I don’t know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes – it is inevitable,” inspire individuals to navigate self-love through self-forgiveness. In doing so, Angelou’s wisdom underscores the profound strength found in embracing one’s imperfections and fostering a compassionate relationship with oneself.
1. “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” —Rupi Kaur
2. “Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves, too.” —Unknown
3. “You are enough just as you are. Each emotion, everything in your life, everything you do or do not do… where you are and who you are right now is enough. It is perfect.” — Haemin Sunim
4. “Happiness is an inside job. Don’t assign anyone else that much power over your life.” — Mandy Hale
5. “It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.”―Eartha Kitt
6. “Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” — Diana, Princess of Wales
7. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde
8. “You are enough. A thousand times enough.” —Unknown
9. “I must be myself. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. If you can love me for what I am, we shall be the happier. If you cannot, I will still seek to deserve that you should.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
10. “It’s not my responsibility to be beautiful. I’m not alive for that purpose. My existence is not about how desirable you find me.” — Warsan Shire
11. “When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” — Paulo Coelho
12. “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi
13. “Don’t waste your energy trying to educate or change opinions; go over, under, through, and opinions will change organically when you’re the boss. Or they won’t. Who cares? Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” — Tina Fey
14. “Gonna love myself. No, I don’t need anybody else.” —Hailee Steinfeld
15. “You deserve someone who makes you feel like the otherworldly creature you are. Yourself.” —Amanda Lovelace
16. “Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you, you.” — Beyoncé
17. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha
18. “Self love is an ocean and your heart is a vessel. Make it full, and any excess will spill over into the lives of the people you hold dear. But you must come first.”―Beau Taplin
19. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde
20. “You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise Hay
21. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.” — Harvey Fierstein
22. “I’m all about body positivity and self-love because I believe that we can save the world if we first save ourselves.” — Lizzo
23. “You can be happy and still want to improve. You can be happy and still want to be healthier, smarter, more generous, more compassionate. Because happiness isn’t about complacency. It’s about knowing you’re enough.” — Unknown
24. “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” — Steve Maraboli
25. “There is you and you. This is a relationship. This is the most important relationship.” ― Nayyirah Waheed
26. “I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”―Sylvia Plath
27. “Don’t worry if people think you’re crazy. You are crazy. You have that kind of intoxicating insanity that lets other people dream outside of the lines and become who they’re destined to be.”―Jennifer Elisabeth
28. “I can’t be there for other people unless I’m there for myself. I can’t really work to push our movement without really investing in myself. By investing in yourself, you’re also investing in your community.” — Dior Vargas
29. “I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side.” — Dr. Maya Angelou
30. “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” — Mark Twain
31. “It is interesting how often we can’t see all the ways in which we are being strong.”—Lena Dunham
32. “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” — Audrey Hepburn
33. “If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.”—Charles Bukowski
34. “Not only do self-love and love of others go hand in hand, but ultimately they are indistinguishable.” — M. Scott Peck
35. “Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love.” — Brené Brown
36. “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.”—Parker Palmer
37. “Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.” — Lucille Ball
38. “We are all stronger, smarter, talented, beautiful, and more resilient than we were told.” — CeCe McDonald
39. “You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand new ending.” — James R. Sherman
40. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
41. “I am thankful for all of those who said no to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself.” — Wayne Dyer
42. “Keep taking time for yourself until you’re you again.” — Lalah Delia
43. “Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” — Lucille Ball
44. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” —Buddha
45. “Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
46. “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.”―Shannon L. Alder
47. “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”—Mark Twain
48. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”—Buddha
49. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” —Stephen Chbosky
50. “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” —Lucille Ball
51. “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.” — William Shakespeare
52. “Treat her like you never want to lose her.” —r.h. Sin
