Self-love provides the foundation to a fulfilling life, impacting how we interact with ourselves and the world around us. It influences our choices, relationships, and the resilience we have in the face of challenges. This collection of 70 empowering quotes on self-love is curated to inspire and remind you of the importance of valuing yourself.
In moments of doubt or hardship, these words can serve as a beacon of strength and affirmation. Whether you are beginning your journey of self-love or looking to deepen your commitment to self-care, these quotes will uplift your spirit and reinforce the fundamental principle that loving yourself is a priority, not a luxury.
Table of Contents
The Power Within: Self-Acceptance and Inner Peace
The following quotes about self-love, from luminaries such as Maya Angelou, explore the theme that your worthiness is inherent, unchangeable, and not contingent upon anyone’s judgment.
“To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.”
Sandra Bierig
“When I loved myself enough, I learned to cherish my imperfections and to love them as part of my unique, unrepeatable soul.”
Kim McMillen
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
Maya Angelou
“The first step toward self-acceptance is to see your own weaknesses. From this place you can then turn these weaknesses into strength.”
Jason Cain
“Love yourself unconditionally, just as you love those closest to you despite their faults.”
Les Brown
Self-love begins with the radical acceptance of who we are, imperfections and all. It is in our flaws that we find our completeness, and in our acceptance, we discover internal peace.
Resilience and Adversity: Inner Strength and Courage
Life is a series of challenges, and our capacity to love ourselves through these adversities is crucial. Find strength in these quotes during life’s tougher moments.
“Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It’s about accepting all of yourself.”
Tyra Banks
“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.”
Barbara De Angelis
“Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can’t love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.”
Stacey Charter
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
Oscar Wilde
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.”
Brené Brown
These quotes about resilience and adversity remind us that self-love is not a mere luxury but a vital aspect of our inner strength. It is a shield against life’s harshness and the courage to continue despite our fears.
Growth and Transformation: Personal Development
Self-love acts as a catalyst for personal growth. These quotes illuminate the path to transformation and the endless possibilities that arise from a heart rooted in love for oneself.
“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.”
Venus Williams
You can’t build a strong and stable self-esteem by protecting yourself from failure or disappointment. You only build it by taking the risk to be a little different and by having self-compassion when things do go awry.”
Nathaniel Branden
“Close your eyes and imagine the best version of you possible. That’s who you really are, let go of any part of you that doesn’t believe it.
C. Assaad
“To establish true self-esteem, we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives.”
Denis Waitley
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
Jalal ad-Din Rumi
With a focus on self-love, personal growth becomes a fulfilling adventure rather than a daunting task. These quotes remind us to be kind to ourselves, to believe in our potential, and to take joy in the process of becoming.
Compassion and Kindness: Acts of Self-Love
Kindness is not just an outwardly directed action. It is imperative that we show the same compassion to ourselves. These self-love quotes focus on acts of kindness towards one’s own being.
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
Louise L. Hay
“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
Carl Jung
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Buddha
“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
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
Maya Angelou
By extending kindness and compassion to ourselves, we open our hearts to an experience of love that can transform the way we interact with the world. These quotes on self-love are a gentle nudge to treat ourselves with the same care we so easily give to others.
Mindfulness and Being Present: The Art of Living in the Now
The present moment is where self-love thrives. It’s a space where regret and anxiety for the future cannot coexist. These quotes focus on the importance of presence as a form of self-love.
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Buddha
“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”
Bell Hooks
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
Oscar Wilde
“The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.”
William James
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
When we practice mindfulness, we gift ourselves the time and attention we deserve. It’s in these moments of presence that true self-love manifests and flourishes.
Gratitude and Happiness: Receiving the Love We Give
A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles, especially self-love miracles. These quotes emphasize the importance of being thankful for the love we are and the love we give.
“If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.”
Toni Morrison
“In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.
I own everything about me – my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts.
I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.
However, I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me.
If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded.
I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am okay.”
Virginia Satir
“You, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Buddha
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs, and habits – anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.”
Kim McMillen
“To establish true self-esteem, we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives.”
Denis Waitley
These self-love quotes remind us of the joy of acknowledging and appreciating who we are. When we fill our hearts with gratitude for our existence, we open the floodgates for a river of love to flow both inward and outward.
Beauty and the Beast: Redefining Your Self-Image
Society often dictates what is beautiful and what is not. It’s time to reclaim the narrative. These quotes help redefine the standard by which we measure our beauty and self-worth.
“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
Carl Jung
“You deserve to be the best version of you.”
“Loving oneself isn’t hard, when you understand who and what ‘yourself’ is. It has nothing to do with the shape of your face, the size of your eyes, the length of your hair, or the quality of your clothes. It’s so beyond all of those things and it’s what gives life to everything about you.”
Phyllis Diller
Our sense of self-worth is the single most important determinant of health, education, and success.
Susan L. Taylor
“The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.”
Robert Hand
By redefining beauty and worth on our own terms, we release the shackles of societal expectations and allow self-love to take its rightful place at the center of our existence.
Love Language and Actions: Speaking and Showing Love to Yourself
We all have unique ways of expressing and receiving love. But how do you demonstrate love towards yourself? These quotes guide you on the path of self-expression in love towards you.
“Love yourself so much that when someone treats you wrong, you recognize it.”
Rena Rose
“Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.”
Deborah Day
“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you”
Rupi Kaur
“With all the things that are outside of your control, your ability to show yourself love is the one thing you have total power over.”
Jenny Blake
“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”
Malcolm S. Forbes
Recognize the importance of self-expression in love. Speaking and showing love to yourself in ways that resonate with you is not selfish; it’s an act of ultimate kindness and wisdom.
Self-Worth and Dignity: The Essence of Self-Love
How do you see your worth in the grander scheme of life? These quotes remind you that your value doesn’t fluctuate; it is constant and it is immense.
“You are enough just as you are.”
Meghan Markle
“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
“You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
Steve Jobs
“Self-love is asking yourself what you need – every day – and then making sure you receive it.”
“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”
Ken Keyes Jr.
Understanding your inherent worth and dignity is a critical step toward self-love. These quotes encourage you to believe in and honor your value, setting the stage for a life filled with loving choices and relationships.
Boundaries and Self-Respect: The Fortress of Self-Love
How well do you protect your heart and mind from external influences? Boundaries are critical to self-love. These quotes emphasize the importance of protecting your emotional space.
“Remember that your perception of the world is a reflection of your state of consciousness. You are not separate from it, and there is no objective world outside of you.”
Eckart Tolle
“The most important distinction anyone can ever make in their life is between who they are as an individual and their connection with others.”
Anne Katherine
“Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them.”
Kristi Ling
“Our self-respect tracks our choices. Every time we act in harmony with our authentic self and our heart, we earn our respect.”
Dan Coppersmith
“You have to learn to get up from the table when love is no longer being served.”
Nina Simone
Firm boundaries are not a lack of love but an expression of it. They communicate that your time, energy, and emotions are precious and deserving of respect. These self-love quotes are about fortifying your inner sanctuary.
Personal Affirmations: The Love Mantras You Need
Affirmations serve as the verbal expression of your commitment to loving yourself. They are saying ‘yes’ to self-worth and ‘no’ to self-doubt.
“I get better every day in every way”
Louise Hay
“I am enough. My imperfections make me unique and beautiful.”
“I love and approve of myself. I am safe.”
Louise Hay
“Today, I choose to be gentle and kind to myself.”
“I am whole, I am complete, and I am deserving of love.”
Affirmations are like mantras that reinforce your commitment to self-love. When repeated with conviction, they reinforce the messages that you are spreading through your inner self.
Visualizations and Self-Projection: Seeing Yourself in the Light of Love
How do you visualize yourself? Your mind’s eye is a powerful tool for projecting love towards yourself. These quotes highlight the importance of visualizing a relationship with oneself built on love and respect.
“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
“Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?”
Brigham Young
“The only person who can pull me down, besides myself, is God.”
Dolly Parton
“Becoming acquainted with yourself is a price well worth paying for the love that will really address your needs.”
Daphne Rose Kingma
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.”
William Shakespeare
Visualization is a powerful tool to manifest your desires, and these self-love quotes underscore the importance of seeing yourself as deserving and capable of a loving and fulfilling life.
Learning to Say No: Self-Love in Boundaries
No is a complete sentence. It affirms your right to make choices that serve you. These quotes will empower you to utter that powerful two-letter word without guilt or hesitation.
“No” might make them angry, but it will make you free.
Nayirrah Waheed
“When you say “yes” to others, make sure you are not saying “no” to yourself.”
Paulo Coelho
“It’s only by saying “no” that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.”
Steve Jobs
You are allowed to terminate toxic relationships. You are allowed to walk away from people who hurt you. You are allowed to be angry and selfish and unforgiving. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for taking care of yourself.”
“No boundaries, no respect. Know your boundaries and demand respect.”
R.L. Koemans
Learning to say no without explanation is an act of self-love and self-respect. These quotes are the reminders you need to maintain healthy boundaries and keep toxic influences at bay.
The Inner Critic vs. The Inner Cheerleader
We all have two voices within us; one that criticizes and one that cheers. These quotes illustrate the importance of listening to the voice that supports and affirms your worthiness.
“If you aren’t going to tell the truth, then don’t say anything at all.”
Marcus Aurelius
“Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.”
Swami Vivekananda
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.”
Etty Hillesum
“Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you happy. That’s my life motto.”
Demi Lovato
“I’ve finally stopped running away from myself. Who else is there better to be?”
Goldie Hawn
Your inner cheerleader will always remind you of your strengths and worthiness. These quotes remind you to listen to that voice and dismiss your inner critic.
Concluding Thoughts on these Quotes on Self-Love
These quotes on self-love, drawn from a diverse group of thinkers, writers, and public figures, collectively underscore a universal truth: self-love is the key to a fulfilling and joyful life.
Each quote, in its own unique way, reinforces the idea that self-love is not an act of selfishness but a necessary condition for healthy self-esteem and the ability to love others. They teach us that loving ourself is a dynamic and ongoing process, requiring attention, kindness, and sometimes, the courage to prioritize yourself. This is crucial, for after all, the relationship we have with ourselves sets the tone for every other relationship in our life.
Posts about Self-Love
Why Self-Love Isn’t Selfish: Dispelling the Myth of Selfishness
Self-Love Journaling: A Path to Inner Healing and Empowerment
51 Self-Love Journaling Prompts: A Path to Personal Transformation
6 Poems About Self Love That Will Speak to Your Soul
40 Funny Self-Love Quotes to Brighten Your Day
Embracing Change: A Self-Love Journey of Growth and Discovery
Nurture Your Spirit: 25 Inspiring Journal Prompts for Self-Love
Mindful Self Compassion: Embracing Kindness And Resilience In Everyday Life
Empower Your Inner Voice: The Healing Power Of A Self Love Journal
Embrace Your Authentic Self: 20 Affirmations For Cultivating Unwavering Self-Love
70 Empowering Quotes On Self-Love To Uplift Your Spirit
Carla Corelli
Carla Corelli, a writer, advocate, and survivor of narcissistic abuse, draws from her own upbringing with a narcissistic father to shed light on psychological trauma. Fueled by her personal journey, she pursued a degree in psychology and has dedicated herself to shedding light on the complexities of narcissistic abuse.
With over fifteen years of experience in writing and advocating for survivors, Carla is deeply committed to providing support, education, and empowerment to those who have endured similar trauma. Through her articles, Carla aims to offer a compassionate space for healing and growth, while advocating for greater awareness and understanding of narcissistic abuse.
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