10 More Inspiring Quotes By Black Women

At the beginning of the year, I listed 10 Inspiring Quotes by Black Women to keep us motivated and inspired to make this an amazing year. Now that 2010 is winding to a close, I feel that listing 10 more inspiring quotes by black women is in order. I hope the wisdom that these ladies imparts to you will keep you motivated to reach for success and have the mental toughness to keep going when your goals seem far away. You CAN do it… if you don’t take my word for it, take the words of 10 phenomenal black women to heart.

I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.
Madam C.J. Walker

I used to want the words “She tried” on my tombstone. Now I want “She did it.”
Katherine Dunham

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.
Toni Morrison

Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.
Alice Walker

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
Oprah Winfrey

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily difference we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.
Marian Wright Edelman

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Rosa Parks

Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
Mary McLeod Bethune

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again.
Sojourner Truth

Our work has only begun. In our time we have an historic opportunity to shape a global balance of power that favors freedom and that will therefore deepen and extend the peace. And I use the word power broadly, because even more important than military and indeed economic power is the power of ideas, the power of compassion, and the power of hope.
Condoleezza Rice

10 Inspiring Quotes By Black Women

Here are 10 quotes to inspire you to keep going. When the going gets tough, its time to dig in your heals and stay focused. Let’s get it in in 2010!

You don’t become what you want; you become what you believe.
Oprah Winfrey

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.
Maya Angelou

Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go—purge yourself . . . If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.
Tina Turner

Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that’s in us.
Angela Bassett

I really don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don’t mind the failure but I can’t imagine that I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try.
Nikki Giovanni

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminshes fear.
Rosa Parks

Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.
Susan L. Taylor

Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is Love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.
Ella Fitzgerald

When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Audre Lorde

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.
Wilma Rudolph