International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, honors women’s social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments while advocating for gender equality.
It is a day inclusive of everyone, regardless of country or organization, supporting the advancement of women.
IWD, which started in 1911, sees various global activities such as campaigns, rallies and celebrations aimed at promoting women’s achievements, raising awareness and funding female-focused charities.
The day encourages participation from all, emphasizing its diverse, inclusive nature and collective ownership.
IWD is symbolized by the colors purple (justice and dignity), green (hope) and white (purity).
Here is a list of the inspirational quotes about International Women’s Day.
Best International Women’s Day Quotes
She wore her scars as her best attire. A stunning dress made of hellfire. ~ Daniel Saint.
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. ~ Katherine Hepburn.
Life is tough, my darling, but so are you. ~ Stephanie Bennett-Henry.
A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink. ~ Gina Carey.
Well-behaved women rarely make history. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Girls should never be afraid to be smart. ~ Emma Watson
The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me. ~ Ayn Rand.
She has been through hell, so believe me when I say, fear her when she looks into fire and smiles. ~ E. Corona.
A charming woman doesn’t follow the crowd; she is herself. ~ Loretta Young.
Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. ~ Amelia Earhart.
What we women need to do, instead of worrying about what we don’t have is just love what we do have. ~ Cameron Diaz.
She’s everything; even when she’s treated like nothing. ~ R.H. Sin.
Inspiring International Women’s Day Quotes
I always wanted to be a femme fatale. Even when I was a young girl, I never really wanted to be a girl. I wanted to be a woman. ~ Diane Von Furstenberg.
There’s something about a woman with a loud mind that sits in silence, smiling, knowing she can crush you with the truth. ~ R.G. Moon.
Women are incredible in groups together. Terrifying. Men have nothing on them. ~ Michael Hutchence.
A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. ~ Melinda Gates.
She wasn’t looking for a knight. She was looking for a sword. ~ Atticus.
Sometimes it’s the princess who kills the dragon and saves the prince. ~ Samuel Lowe.
She is strong, but not in the ways most people think. She loves more than she’ll ever get back and she knows it, yet she loves anyway. ~ J.M. Storm.
Females are strong as hell. ~ Kimmy Schmidt.
Top International Women’s Day Quotes
Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world. ~ Hillary Clinton.
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. ~ Audrey Hepburn.
Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength. ~ G.D. Anderson
Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. ~ Oprah Winfrey
What’s the greatest lesson a woman should learn? That since day one, she’s already had everything she needs within herself. It’s the world that convinced her she did not. ~ Rupi Kaur
How wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants rather than to create it herself. ~ Anais Nin.
Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men. ~ Katherine Johnson.
There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise. ~ W.E.B. Dubois
Famous International Women’s Day Quotes
A woman should be like a single flower – not a whole bouquet. ~ Anna Held
It’s okay if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire. ~ Colette Werden
A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done. ~ Marge Piercy.
Strong back. Soft front. Wild heart. Just be you. ~ Brene Brown
Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt.
Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. ~ Gloria Steinem
After all those years as a woman hearing, ‘not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not thin enough, not that enough,’ almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I am enough.’ ~ Anna Quindlen.
And one day she discovered that she was fierce and strong and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back, because her passion burned brighter than her fears. ~ Mark Anthony
The best protection any woman can have is courage. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton
A woman is like a tea bag: You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I can and I will. Watch me. ~ Carrie Green
Popular International Women’s Day Quotes
Cinderella never asked for a prince. She asked for a night off and a dress. ~ Kiera Cass
A girl should be two things: Who and what she wants. ~ Coco Chanel
The world needs strong women who will lift and build others. Who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce; women of indomitable will. ~ Amy Tenney.
There’s nothing a man can do that I can’t do better and in heels. ~ Ginger Rogers
The most important thing one woman can do for another is expanding her sense of actual possibilities. ~ Adrienne Rich.
The most beautiful thing a woman can wear is confidence. ~ Blake Lively
We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced. ~ Malala Yousafzai
Yes, she knows pain, but she is strong. Her heart knows no other way. ~ A.R. Asher.
Some women fear the fire. Some women simply become it. ~ R.H. Sin
Women’s value has been under-recognized for far too long. ~ Sidney Sheldon.
Powerful International Women’s Day Quotes
The age of a woman doesn’t mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Above all, be the heroine of your life. Not the victim. ~ Nora Ephron
In our society, the women who break down barriers are those who ignore limits” –Arnold Schwarzenegger
If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman. ~ Margaret Thatcher
You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. ~ Indira Gandhi.
I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world. ~ Malala
I expect woman will be the last thing civilized by man. ~ George Meredith
She was a wild one. Always stomping on eggshells that everyone else tip-toed on. ~ Kaitlin Foster.
She overcame everything that was meant to destroy her. ~ Rumi
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Motivational International Women’s Day Quotes
She remembered who she was and the game changed. ~ Lalah Deliah
A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t. ~ Rhonda Hansome.
I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves. ~ Mary Shelley
You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman. ~ Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Nothing can dim the light which shines from within. ~ Maya Angelou
Females are the most beautiful, gorgeous creatures in the whole world. And I think that we are gorgeous no matter what size we are. ~ Alicia Keys.
The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble. ~ Serena Williams.
Life is tough, my darling, but so are you. ~ Stephanie Bennett-Henry
Where there is a woman, there is magic. ~ Ntozake Shange
Women hold up half the sky. ~ Mao Zedong
She never seemed shattered to me; she was a breathtaking mosaic of battles she’s won. ~ Matt Baker.
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it. ~ Margaret Fuller.
So these were the 77 top quotes for International Women’s Day.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Tarana Burke quotes and Barry Goldwater quotes.
What is International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD), observed on March 8th, celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements while advocating for gender equality. Initially inspired by the Socialist Party of America’s National Woman’s Day in 1909, IWD was formalized in 1911 after German activist Clara Zetkin proposed the idea.
Celebrated internationally, the first IWD saw over a million attendees in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
The day gained historical significance in 1917 when Russian women protested for “bread and peace” in Petrograd, influencing the Russian Revolution.
Officially sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, IWD has evolved into a key date that spotlights women’s issues and rights, particularly in developing countries, reflecting a resurgence of global feminist movements since the 1960s.
Today, it remains a pivotal day for recognizing women’s contributions and advocating for equal rights worldwide.
Who is the founder of International women’s day?
Clara Zetkin, a leader in Germany’s Social Democratic Party, initiated International Women’s Day (IWD) on August 26, 1910, at a socialist women’s conference in Copenhagen, advocating for women’s suffrage.
Officially observed since 1911 every March 8th, IWD celebrates women’s rights and peace. The Women’s Art Collective, inspired by a peace rally in 1981 Amsterdam, created a portrait series, including Zetkin, promoting peace and equality through art, showcasing global female artists united against societal injustices.
Why is March 8 celebrated as women’s day?
In 1917, Russian women sparked a significant movement by striking for “Bread and Peace” on February 23rd (March 8th in the Gregorian calendar), coinciding with the last Sunday in February.
This protest led to the abdication of the Tsar and the subsequent grant of voting rights to women by the provisional government.
The choice of March 8th to celebrate International Women’s Day is directly linked to this pivotal event, although the original idea for an international celebration by Ms. Zetkin was not associated with a specific date.
Why is International women’s day important?
International Women’s Day, celebrated each March 8th, is a significant occasion recognizing women’s social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments globally.
It serves as both a celebration and a call to action to accelerate gender equality. This day, rooted in early 20th-century movements for labor and voting rights, has evolved into a global acknowledgment of women’s contributions and a platform to address ongoing gender disparities.
Despite progress, challenges remain: women are disproportionately affected by poverty and gender-based violence and they remain underrepresented in political and economic spheres.
Each year, International Women’s Day focuses on a specific theme, enhancing awareness and driving advocacy, particularly in contexts like environmental sustainability and climate change resilience, where women face increased risks.
The day also spurs educational initiatives, corporate accountability, fundraising for women’s issues and personal reflection on biases, underscoring its role as an essential impetus for advancing women’s rights worldwide.
