Quotable Wisdom from 15 Women for 2015
Here are 15 quotable wisdom from 15 women. SUMMARY Fifteen remarkable women—artists, writers, scientists, activists, and thinkers—offered words that still carry weight decades or generations after they were spoken.
Here are 15 quotable wisdom from 15 women.
SUMMARY
Fifteen remarkable women—artists, writers, scientists, activists, and thinkers—offered words that still carry weight decades or generations after they were spoken. For driven, ambitious women navigating relational complexity, self-doubt, and the challenge of living with full authenticity, these quotes offer grounding, encouragement, and the reminder that the struggle you’re in is neither new nor yours alone. The right words at the right time can reach a place that analysis cannot.
In every chapter of life, the right words can offer clarity, courage, or simply the reminder that we’re not alone. The following quotes—each drawn from the voices of 15 remarkable women—hold that kind of resonance. Whether you’re navigating growth, grief, or the quiet in-between, may you find a quote here that meets you exactly where you are.
What are some of the most powerful quotes about wisdom from remarkable women?
Relational trauma refers to psychological injury that occurs within the context of important relationships, particularly those with primary caregivers during childhood. Unlike single-incident trauma, relational trauma involves repeated experiences of emotional neglect, inconsistency, manipulation, or abuse within bonds where safety and trust should have been foundational.
Definition
Wisdom & Mentorship: Mentorship and the wisdom of those who have navigated difficulty before us is a powerful therapeutic resource. In the absence of safe, wise parental figures, the words of teachers, authors, and leaders can serve a genuinely reparative function — offering models of what it looks like to live with integrity and intention.
- Of course you can have it all. What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it will be like, but surprises are good for you. And don’t be frightened: You can always change your mind. I know: I’ve had four careers and three husbands. – Nora Ephron
- I think life is always dangerous. Some people get afraid of it. Some people don’t go forward. But some people, if they want to achieve their goal, they have to go. They have to move … – Malala Yousafzai
- Pressure is a privilege … it’s what you do with it that matters. – Billie Jean King
- Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change. – Shonda Rhimes
- When you stumble, keep faith. And when you’re knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on. – Hillary Clinton
- I’ve been on the floor and I’ve been heartbroken. I didn’t know how I was going to stand up. But I just gave it time. – Sandra Bullock
- You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try. – Dolly Parton
- Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default. – J.K. Rowling
- I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story — I will. – Amy Schumer
- You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. – Maya Angelou
- Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead … Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. It’s all about taking in as much of what’s out there as you can, and not letting the excuses and the dreariness of some of the obligations you’ll soon be incurring narrow your lives. – Susan Sontag
- When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself the following question: ‘Is this person in between me and what I want to do?’ If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way. – Tina Fey
- Hope is a very unruly emotion. – Gloria Steinem
- You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren’t. You take the action, and the insight follows: You don’t think your way into becoming yourself. – Anne Lamott
- You fail, and then what? Life goes on. It’s only when you risk failure that you discover things. – Lupita Nyong’o
- (original post)
Here’s to healing relational trauma and creating thriving lives on solid foundations.
Warmly,
Annie
Frequently Asked Questions
“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.”SIGMUND FREUD
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post is for psychoeducational and informational purposes only and does not constitute therapy, clinical advice, or a therapist-client relationship. For full details, please read our Medical Disclaimer. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).
You deserve a life that feels as good as it looks. Let’s work on that together.
References
- Kram, K. E. (1985). Mentoring at Work: Developmental Relationships in Organizational Life. Scott, Foresman and Company.
- Eagly, A. H., & Carli, L. L. (2007). Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Even if you’re high-achieving, unresolved relational trauma can quietly influence your relationships, self-trust, and self-doubt. It often manifests as difficulty connecting authentically or feeling like an imposter, despite external accomplishments. Recognizing these patterns is the first step towards healing and building more secure connections.
Relational trauma stems from chronic, harmful, or neglectful interactions, especially in early life, leading to deep psychological and emotional injury. It’s more than a single conflict; it shapes your core beliefs about yourself and others. A bad experience, while painful, typically doesn’t have the same pervasive, long-term impact on your sense of self and capacity for connection.
Yes, mentorship can be a powerful reparative experience. A supportive mentor provides guidance, wisdom, and emotional support, offering a healthy model of integrity and intention. This positive relationship can help fill gaps left by earlier flawed attachments, fostering resilience and a renewed sense of self-worth.
Feeling isolated, even with significant achievements, often points to underlying struggles with authenticity and relational complexity. It suggests that past relational wounds might be preventing you from fully connecting. Embracing wisdom from others, as this post highlights, can offer a sense of shared experience and a pathway to deeper healing.
Embracing complexity means acknowledging your past experiences without judgment, understanding they’ve shaped you, but don’t define your future. Start by seeking out resources and voices that resonate with your journey, like the wisdom shared in this post. This gentle exploration, often supported by a trusted guide, allows you to integrate your experiences and find strength within them.
To integrate wisdom, actively reflect on insights from mentors or inspiring figures and consider how they apply to your unique challenges. Practice self-compassion and allow yourself to be met where you are, rather than striving for perfection. This process of internalizing guidance helps you carry forward with courage and build a more intentional life.
Annie Wright
LMFT · Relational Trauma Specialist · W.W. Norton AuthorHelping ambitious women finally feel as good as their résumé looks.
As a licensed psychotherapist, trauma-informed executive coach, and relational trauma specialist with over 15,000 clinical hours, she guides ambitious women — including Silicon Valley leaders, physicians, and entrepreneurs — in repairing the psychological foundations beneath their impressive lives. Annie is the founder and former CEO of Evergreen Counseling, a multimillion-dollar trauma-informed therapy center she built, scaled, and successfully exited. A regular contributor to Psychology Today, her expert commentary has appeared in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., NBC, and The Information. She is currently writing her first book with W.W. Norton.
Work With AnnieWhat does the research say?
The following statistics provide important context for understanding this topic:
- More than one in five U.S. adults (23.1%) live with a mental illness, and women aged 18-25 show the highest prevalence of any major mental illness — NIMH, 2022 (NIMH, Mental Illness Statistics, 2022)
- Impostor syndrome affects more than half of women (54%) at some point, with 72% reporting it has held them back at work — Executive Development Network survey, cited in Personnel Today, 2023 (Personnel Today, Imposter syndrome: Workplace prevalence, 2023)
- 25 studies unanimously show that higher resilience is related to fewer mental health problems — the foundation of all wisdom traditions — Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2021 (Current Opinion in Psychiatry, Resilience and mental health, 2021)
