Brené Brown, an acclaimed American professor, author and podcast host, is celebrated for her impactful work on courage, vulnerability, shame and leadership.
Her renowned TEDx talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”, thrust her research into the mainstream spotlight.
Brown is also the author of six New York Times number-one bestselling books, such as “The Gifts of Imperfection” and “Daring Greatly” and the host of two popular podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.
Her authentic storytelling and innovative research have led to appearances on Netflix and HBO Max.
Beyond her career, she champions personal resilience and authenticity, underscoring the importance of vulnerability in forging deep, meaningful connections.
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Below you will find the most inspiring quotes by Brené Brown.
Top 10 Brené Brown Quotes
1. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.” ~ (Brené Brown).
2. “Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” ~ (Brené Brown).
3. “There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.” ~ (Brené Brown).
4. “You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you can’t have both.” ~ (Brené Brown).
5. “Believing that you’re enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic.” ~ (Brené Brown).
6. “If you own this story you get to write the ending.” ~ (Brené Brown).
7. “It’s not about ‘what can I accomplish?’ but ‘what do I want to accomplish?’ Paradigm shift.” ~ (Brené Brown).
8. “Share with people who have earned the right to hear your story.” ~ (Brené Brown).
9. “You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors.” ~ (Brené Brown).
10. “Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Quotes by Brené Brown
11. “Vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it’s also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love.” ~ (Brené Brown).
12. “We are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.” ~ (Brené Brown).
13. “If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.” ~ (Brené Brown).
14. “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” ~ (Brené Brown).
15. “Maybe stories are just data with a soul.” ~ (Brené Brown).
16. “Vulnerability is not about winning, and it’s not about losing. It’s about having the courage to show up and be seen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
17. “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.” ~ (Brené Brown).
18. “Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect.” ~ (Brené Brown).
19. “When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver!” ~ (Brené Brown).
20. “Empathy fuels connection; sympathy drives disconnection.” ~ (Brené Brown).
21. “The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.” ~ (Brené Brown).
22. “Worthiness doesn’t have prerequisites.” ~ (Brené Brown).
23. “Lean into the discomfort of the work.” ~ (Brené Brown).
24. “Self-compassion is key because when we’re able to be gentle with ourselves in the midst of shame, we’re more likely to reach out, connect, and experience empathy.” ~ (Brené Brown).
25. “Courage, the original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language – it’s from the Latin word cor, meaning heart – and the original definition was to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart.” ~ (Brené Brown).
26. “When we deny our stories, They define us. When we own our stories, we get to write the ending.” ~ (Brené Brown).
27. “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
28. “Joy, collected over time, fuels resilience – ensuring we’ll have reservoirs of emotional strength when hard things do happen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
29. “There is no joy without gratitude.” ~ (Brené Brown).
30. “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ~ (Brené Brown).
31. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Best Brené Brown Quotes
Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work, where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair. Brown has studied courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy over the past two decades.
32. “Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.” ~ (Brené Brown).
33. “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” ~ (Brené Brown).
34. “Trust is a product of vulnerability that grows over time and requires work, attention, and full engagement.” ~ (Brené Brown).
35. “If you put shame in a petri dish, it needs three ingredients to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence, and judgment. If you put the same amount of shame in the petri dish and douse it with empathy, it can’t survive.” ~ (Brené Brown).
36. “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
37. “Compassion is not a virtue – it is a commitment. It’s not something we have or don’t have – it’s something we choose to practice.” ~ (Brené Brown).
38. “Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.” ~ (Brené Brown).
39. “What we know matters but who we are matters more.” ~ (Brené Brown).
40. “In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
41. “We don’t have to be perfect, just engaged and committed to aligning values with actions.” ~ (Brené Brown).
42. “Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer.” ~ (Brené Brown).
43. “The willingness to show up changes us, It makes us a little braver each time.” ~ (Brené Brown).
44. “Let go of who you think you should be in order to be who you are. Be imperfect and have compassion for yourself. Connection is the result of authenticity.” ~ (Brené Brown).
45. “If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.” ~ (Brené Brown).
46. “What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful.” ~ (Brené Brown).
47. “At the end of my life I want to be able to say I contributed more than I criticized.” ~ (Brené Brown).
48. “Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.” ~ (Brené Brown).
49. “When you numb your pain you also numb your joy.” ~ (Brené Brown).
50. “What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Powerful Brené Brown Quotes
51. “When we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy becomes foreboding.” ~ (Brené Brown).
52. “Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self acceptance.” ~ (Brené Brown).
53. “Are you the adult that you want your child to grow up to be?” ~ (Brené Brown).
54. “There is no such thing as creative and non-creative people, only people who use their creativity and people who don’t.” ~ (Brené Brown).
56. “Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver. And our world could stand to be a little kinder and braver.” ~ (Brené Brown).
57. “The difficult thing is that vulnerability is the first thing I look for in you and the last thing I’m willing to show you. In you, it’s courage and daring. In me, it’s weakness.” ~ (Brené Brown).
58. “If we want to fully experience love and belonging, we must believe that we are worthy of love and belonging.” ~ (Brené Brown).
59. “Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.” ~ (Brené Brown).
60. “The most powerful teaching moments are the ones where you screw up.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Famous Brené Brown Quotes
61. “Here’s what is truly at the heart of wholeheartedness: Worthy now, not if, not when, we’re worthy of love and belonging now. Right this minute. As is.” ~ (Brené Brown).
63. “What we know matters, but who we are matters more. Being rather than knowing requires showing up and letting ourselves be seen. It requires us to dare greatly, to be vulnerable.” ~ (Brené Brown).
64. “Vulnerability is not about fear and grief and disappointment; it is the birthplace of everything we’re hungry for.” ~ (Brené Brown).
65. “I believe a joyful life is made up of joyful moments, gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude, inspiration, and faith.” ~ (Brené Brown).
66. “Knowledge is only rumor until it lives in the bones.” ~ (Brené Brown).
67. “If we want to cultivate hopefulness, we have to be willing to be flexible and demonstrate perseverance. Not every goal will look and feel the same. Tolerance for disappointment, determination, and a belief in self are the heart of hope.” ~ (Brené Brown).
68. “Unused creativity is not benign.” ~ (Brené Brown).
69. “We’re all so busy chasing the extraordinary that we forget to stop and be grateful for the ordinary.” ~ (Brené Brown).
71. “Guilt is just as powerful, but its influence is positive, while shame’s is destructive. Shame erodes our courage and fuels disengagement.” ~ (Brené Brown).
72. “You cannot talk about race without talking about privilege. And when people start talking about privilege, they get paralyzed by shame.” ~ (Brené Brown).
73. “We’re a nation of exhausted and over-stressed adults raising over-scheduled children.” ~ (Brené Brown).
74. “Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Inspirational Brené Brown Quotes
75. “I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter. To be on that list, you have to love me for my strengths and struggles.” ~ (Brené Brown).
76. “If we want to live and love with our whole hearts, and if we want to engage with the world from a place of worthiness, we have to talk about the things that get in the way- especially shame, fear and vulnerability.” ~ (Brené Brown).
78. “For me, the opposite of scarcity is not abundance. It’s enough. I’m enough. My kids are enough.” ~ (Brené Brown).
79. “I’m just so grateful, because to feel this vulnerable means I’m alive.” ~ (Brené Brown).
80. “We’re a nation hungry for more joy: Because we’re starving from a lack of gratitude.” ~ (Brené Brown).
81. “A good life happens when you stop and are grateful for the ordinary moments that so many of us just steamroll over to try to find those extraordinary moments.” ~ (Brené Brown).
82. “Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous.” ~ (Brené Brown).
83. “I now see how gifts like courage, compassion, and connection only work when they are exercised. Every day.” ~ (Brené Brown).
84. “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.” ~ (Brené Brown).
85. “We cannot give our children what we don’t have.” ~ (Brené Brown).
86. “Wholeheartedness. There are many tenets of Wholeheartedness, but at its very core is vulnerability and worthiness; facing uncertainty, exposure, and emotional risks, and knowing that I am enough.” ~ (Brené Brown).
87. “Feeling vulnerable, imperfect, and afraid is human. It’s when we lose our capacity to hold space for these struggles that we become dangerous.” ~ (Brené Brown).
89. “Courage is a value. My faith is the organizing principle in my life and what underpins my faith is courage and love, and so I have to be in the arena if I’m going to live in alignment with my values.” ~ (Brené Brown).
90. “Courage is like – it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.” ~ (Brené Brown).
91. “We cannot give our children what we don’t have. Where we are on our journey of living and loving with our whole hearts is a much stronger indicator of parenting success than anything we can learn from how-to books.” ~ (Brené Brown).
92. “Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Popular Brené Brown Quotes
93. “Who we are matters immeasurably more than what we know or who we want to be.” ~ (Brené Brown).
94. “Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.” ~ (Brené Brown).
95. “Living a connected life ultimately is about setting boundaries, spending less time and energy hustling and winning over people who don’t matter, and seeing the value of working on cultivating connection with family and close friends.” ~ (Brené Brown).
96. “Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” ~ (Brené Brown).
97. “The universe is not short on wake-up calls. We’re just quick to hit the snooze button.” ~ (Brené Brown).
98. “I’m never more courageous than when I’m embracing imperfection, embracing vulnerabilities, and setting boundaries with the people in my life.” ~ (Brené Brown).
99. “We have to be women we want our daughters to be.” ~ (Brené Brown).
100. “Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism.” ~ (Brené Brown).
102. “Laughter, song, and dance create emotional and spiritual connection; they remind us of the one thing that truly matters when we are searching for comfort, celebration, inspiration, or healing: We are not alone.” ~ (Brené Brown).
103. “The truth is, rarely can a response make something better – what makes something better is connection.” ~ (Brené Brown).
104. “Rest and play, are as vital to our health as nutrition and exercise.” ~ (Brené Brown).
105. “Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” ~ (Brené Brown).
106. “We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.” ~ (Brené Brown).
107. “Tell your story with your whole heart.” ~ (Brené Brown).
108. “That’s what life is about: about daring greatly, about being in the arena.” ~ (Brené Brown).
109. “Mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace, joy and gratitude into our lives.” ~ (Brené Brown).
110. “What’s worth doing even if you fail?” ~ (Brené Brown).
111. “Shame cannot survive being spoken. It cannot tolerate having words wrapped around it. What it craves is secrecy, silence, and judgment. If you stay quiet, you stay in a lot of self-judgment.” ~ (Brené Brown).
112. “The question isn’t so much, Are you parenting the right way? as it is: Are you the adult you want your child to grow up to be?” ~ (Brené Brown).
113. “Hope is a function of struggle.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Inspiring Brené Brown Quotes
114. “Wholehearted living is not like trying to reach a destination. It’s like walking toward a star in the sky. We never really ‘arrive,’ but we certainly know that we’re heading in the right direction.” ~ (Brené Brown).
115. “When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.” ~ (Brené Brown).
117. “Nothing has transformed my life more than realizing that it’s a waste of time to evaluate my worthiness by weighing the reaction of the people in the stands.” ~ (Brené Brown).
118. “Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.” ~ (Brené Brown).
119. “When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. This is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behavior or a choice.” ~ (Brené Brown).
120. “The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression.” ~ (Brené Brown).
121. “Vulnerability is the core, the heart, the center, of meaningful human experience.” ~ (Brené Brown).
122. “You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability.” ~ (Brené Brown).
123. “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” ~ (Brené Brown).
124. “If you trade your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, rage, blame, resentment, and inexplicable grief.” ~ (Brené Brown).
126. “Nostalgia is also a dangerous form of comparison. Think about how often we compare our lives to a memory that nostalgia has so completely edited that it never really existed.” ~ (Brené Brown).
127. “If we can’t stand up to the never good enough and who do you think you are? we can’t move forward.” ~ (Brené Brown).
128. “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.” ~ (Brené Brown).
129. “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” ~ (Brené Brown).
130. “I don’t just want someone who says they love me; I want someone who practices that love for me every day.” ~ (Brené Brown).
131. “The two most powerful words when we’re in struggle: me too.” ~ (Brené Brown).
132. “When failure is not an option, we can forget about creativity, learning, and innovation.” ~ (Brené Brown).
133. “Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It’s the fear that we’re not good enough.” ~ (Brené Brown).
134. “There’s nothing more daring than showing up, putting ourselves out there and letting ourselves be seen.” ~ (Brené Brown).
Inspirational Brené Brown Quotes
135. “Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.” ~ (Brené Brown).
136. “Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.” ~ (Brené Brown).
138. “Connection, the ability to feel connected, is neurobiologically wired, that’s why we’re here!” ~ (Brené Brown).
139. “When I look at narcissism through the vulnerability lens, I see the shame-based fear of being ordinary. I see the fear of never feeling extraordinary enough to be noticed, to be lovable, to belong, or to cultivate a sense of purpose.” ~ (Brené Brown).
140. “How can we embrace rest and play if we’ve tied our self-worth to what we produce?” ~ (Brené Brown).
141. “Until we can receive with an open heart, we’re never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.” ~ (Brené Brown).
142. “Hope is not an emotion; it’s a way of thinking or a cognitive process.” ~ (Brené Brown).
143. “Numb the dark and you numb the light.” ~ (Brené Brown).
144. “Joy comes to us in moments – ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” ~ (Brené Brown).
145. “Shame cannot survive being spoken. It cannot survive empathy.” ~ (Brené Brown).
146. “Knowledge is important, but only if we’re being kind and gentle with ourselves as we work to discover who we are.” ~ (Brené Brown).
147. “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ~ (Brené Brown).
148. “Daring greatly means the courage to be vulnerable. It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need. To talk about how you’re feeling. To have the hard conversations.” ~ (Brené Brown).
149. “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” ~ (Brené Brown).
149. “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” ~ (Brené Brown).
150. “You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” ~ (Brené Brown).
151. “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” ~ (Brené Brown).
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Short Biography of Brené Brown
Brené Brown, born in 1965, is a celebrated American professor, author, and podcaster, famous for exploring themes of shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
She gained widespread recognition with her 2010 TEDx talk and has since authored six New York Times bestsellers, alongside hosting successful podcasts.
Full Name | Casandra Brené Brown |
Born | 18 November 1965 (age 58 years), San Antonio, Texas, United States |
Spouse | Steve Alley (m. 1994) |
Children | Ellen Alley, Charlie Alley |
Parents | Casandra Deanne Rogers, Charles Arthur Brown |
Siblings | Ashley Brown Ruiz, Barrett Guillen |
Occupations | Clinical Social Worker, Academic, Public speaker |
Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin; University of Houston |
Thesis | Acompañar: A Grounded Theory of Developing, Maintaining and Assessing Relevance in Professional Helping (2002) |
Discipline | Social work |
Website | brenebrown.com |
Brown’s insights reached a broader audience through documentaries on Netflix and HBO Max.
Holding an endowed chair at the University of Houston and serving as a visiting professor at the University of Texas, her academic journey began in Texas, progressing from a Bachelor’s to a Ph.D. in social work.
Quick Facts about Brené Brown
- Brené Brown was born on November 18, 1965, in San Antonio, Texas.
- She is an American professor, social worker, author, and podcast host.
- Known for her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.
- Her 2010 TEDx talk on vulnerability is one of the top five most viewed.
- Brown has authored six New York Times number-one bestsellers.
- She holds the Brené Brown Endowed Chair at the University of Houston.
- Brené is also a visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
- She was baptized in the Episcopal Church but raised Catholic.
- Earned her PhD in social work from the University of Houston in 2002.
- Her research focuses on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy.
- Brown’s Netflix special, “The Call to Courage,” debuted in 2019.
- She’s been featured on HBO Max with the series “Atlas of the Heart.”
- Brené has been a public speaker for Google, Disney, and more.
- Her TEDxKC talk, “The Price of Invulnerability,” discusses the downside of numbing emotions.
- She co-created an anthology discussing the Black experience with Tarana Burke.
- Brown began hosting the podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead in 2020.
- Her work includes a chapter in Tim Ferriss’ “Tools of Titans.”
- Brown’s work is known for blending motivational speech with humor.
- She’s faced criticism for her essay on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Brené uses profanity in her books and talks, sparking debates.
- Critiques have been made about her understanding of BIPOC experiences.
- She’s the CEO of “The Daring Way,” focusing on vulnerability and courage.
- Brown made an appearance in the movie “Wine Country.”
- She and her husband, Dr. Steve Alley, have two children and live in Houston.
- Returned to the Episcopal Church with her family after decades.
- Brown has shared her journey overcoming past addictions.
- Her first book was “Women & Shame” published in 2005.
- Her latest book, “Atlas of the Heart,” aims to expand emotional vocabulary.
- Brené’s podcasts have won awards, including the iHeartRadio Podcast Award.
- Her work, “Atlas of the Heart,” won the Goodreads Choice award for Best Nonfiction in 2022.
Top Questions about Brené Brown
A: Brené Brown emphasizes that vulnerability is essential to building courage, advocating for “courage over comfort.”
A: Brown’s books act as accessible entry points for those new to exploring their emotions, avoiding the complexity of denser psychological texts.
A: Her TED Talk, “The power of vulnerability,” gained massive attention for its insightful exploration of vulnerability, making it one of the most watched talks globally.
A: Brown’s work centers on vulnerability, shame, courage, and leadership, propelling her to international recognition.
A: Yes, despite her public persona, Brown is an introvert who values solitude and close relationships for rejuvenation.
A: Maya Angelou has profoundly influenced Brown, serving as a constant source of inspiration and guidance.
A: Brown is celebrated for her roles as an author, professor, and speaker, especially known for her TEDx talk and bestselling books.
A: Holding a distinguished chair at the University of Houston, Brown also teaches at the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on her research areas.
A: Brown blends motivational insights with humor in her talks, such as her Netflix lecture, encouraging audiences to embrace vulnerability for deeper connections.
A: Her bestselling books, such as “Daring Greatly,” encourage readers to confront vulnerability, leading to transformative personal growth.
A: “Unlocking Us” features a mix of interviews and solo episodes, where Brown shares personal stories and insights from her research.
A: Among various honors, Brown has been acknowledged by Houston Woman Magazine and received the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for “Unlocking Us.”
A: Raised in Texas and educated in social work and research, Brown’s upbringing and academic background laid the foundation for her focus on emotional resilience and leadership.
A: Besides her famous talks on vulnerability, Brown has also discussed the consequences of avoiding difficult emotions in her TEDxKC talk, “The Price of Invulnerability.”
A: Brown has faced critique for her straightforward language and perspectives, especially regarding sensitive political issues, demonstrating the wide-ranging impact of her work.