Words of Wisdom: Inspiring Thoughts From Women We Love

It is International Women’s Day, celebration of women’s political, economic and social achievements. To mark the occasion we have collected the thoughts of some of our favourite women who have made difference in the world and continue to inspire us, elevate, and empower the female gender. Happy International Women’s Day, everyone!

ON WOMANHOOD

One is not born, but rather becomes a woman. – Simone de Beauvoir

Women’s lib? I was a liberated woman long before there was a name for it. – Peggy Guggenheim

Of course, it’s easier to do fittings on professional models. But I don’t like the idea that women need to be perfect. I prefer a woman on the street who can express something. I prefer a strong woman to a beautiful woman. – Jenny Meirens

Beautiful? It’s all a question of luck. I was born with good legs. As for the rest… beautiful, no. Amusing, yes. – Josephine Baker

A bird cannot fly with one wing only. Human space flight cannot develop any further without the active participation of women. – Valentina Tereshkova

I think one does feel more liberated and independent when one gets older. More honest and open with yourself and others. But you still have insecurities – they’re different, but they don’t totally go away. – Linda Rodin

As this planet becomes more brutarian and arrogant and patriarchal, the only real rebellion is to really embrace beauty and pleasure. To reclaim it with as much vigour as possible. – Lydia Lunch

ON LIFE

Someone else’s vision will never be as good as your own vision of yourself. Live and die with it ’cause in the end it’s all you have. Lose it and you lose yourself and everything else. I should have listened to myself. – Georgia O’Keeffe

Life shrinks or expands in proportion with one’s courage. – Anaïs Nin

If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s not to be so judgmental of other people. – Patti Smith

A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste—it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against. – Diana Vreeland

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou

There’s only one very good life and that’s the life you know you want and you make it yourself. – Diana Vreeland

I look back on my life with great joy. I think it was a very successful life. I always did what I wanted and never cared what anyone thought. – Peggy Guggenheim

Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day. – Janis Joplin

ON CREATING

In terms of creation, I have never thought of suiting any system or abiding by any rules. In this respect I have remained free. The necessity has grown, as we have gotten bigger, to think about commercial aspects of the business more and more, because of the responsibility we have toward our staff and our factories. – Rei Kawakubo

I pick up inspiration from everywhere and it all manages to keep stored in my brain somewhere. – Santi White

If we do not have love it’s difficult to work well. And in the kitchen that’s extremely important. When one is loved, she can create better. There is more passion. More beautiful thoughts. Because of love, we do nice things. – Ana Roš

The age in which we live, this non-stop distraction, is making it more impossible for the young generation to ever have the curiosity or discipline… because you need to be alone to find out anything. – Vivienne Westwood

Your ego can become an obstacle to your work. If you start believing in your greatness, it is the death of your creativity. – Marina Abramovic

I took advice from none but the best. I listened, how I listened! That’s how I finally became my own expert. – Peggy Guggenheim

To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It’s freedom. – Patti Smith

We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.

– Malala Yousafzai

ON SUCCESS

The men liked to put me down as the best woman painter. I think I’m one of the best painters. – Georgia O’Keeffe

Every great success is an accumulation of thousands of ordinary efforts that no one else sees or appreciates. – Poly Styrene

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 have failed by default. – J. K. Rowling

People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically… No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in. – Rosa Parks

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. – Maya Angelou

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Collected by Katja Butala & Sandra Gubenšek