Top 50 Inspirational Quotes for Women Entrepreneurs (by women)

By Tara Holling
culled from:http://entreprenista.com
Confession: I love being an entrepreneur; it’s an incredible experience… but it isn’t always easy. An adventure? Definitely. All sunshine and rainbows? Not so much.
So where do you turn when you’re feeling the weight of the entrepreneurial world on your shoulders? When you need some sort of a motivational pick-me-up? For me, quotes are the key.
Quotes serve as a quick reminder that we’re not alone in this; that others have been where we are, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that anything and everything is possible. They help to spark our brilliance, inspire creativity, and turbo-boost us into “get it done” mode.
Now, there are a lot of great quotes out there; but I’ve scoured the web to find the quotes that I feel are the best ones to inspire, empower, and motivate us to greatness. Out of more than 500 “candidates”, these are my picks for the Top 50, and they were all said by strong, successful women just like you and me.
Check them out, and be sure to add your favorites in the comments section below.

The Top 50 Quotes for Women Entrepreneurs

“There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.” Madam C.J. Walker, Walker Cosmetics line

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” Mary Kay Ash, founder Mary Kay Cosmetics

“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, American television host, actress, producer, and philanthropist
“I became successful due to several reasons. I never gave up and I never let anyone or anything get in my way. I use the power of positive thinking to tackle obstacles and challenges so they don’t defeat me.” Lillian Vernon, founder Lillian Vernon Corporation
“My will shall shape the future.  Whether I fail or succeed shall be no one’s doing but my own.  I am the force. I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice. My responsibility.  Win or lose; only I hold the key to my destiny.” Elaine Maxwell, Author

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Helen Keller, author, political activist, and speaker

“Remember, all the answers you need are inside of you; you only have to become quiet enough to hear them.” Debbie Ford, author, speaker, and founder of the Ford Institute for Integrative Coaching
“Most of us have trouble juggling. The woman who says she doesn’t is someone whom I admire but have never met.” Barbara Walters, broadcast journalist and author
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” Melinda Gates, philanthropist, co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake.” Marie Beyon Ray, author

“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.” Coco Chanel, founder of Chanel
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou, author and poet
“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” Anais Nin, author
“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.” Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop
“If you are committed to creating value and if you aren’t afraid of hard times; obstacles become utterly unimportant. A nuisance perhaps; but with no real power. The world respects creation; people will get out of your way.” Candice Carpenter, founder of iVillage.com

“Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.” Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

“What I wanted was to be allowed to do the thing in the world that I did best — which I believed then and believe now is the greatest privilege there is. When I did that, success found me.” Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Bakeries
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” Maya Angelou, author and poet
“Successful people understand that you don’t need to make things complicated.” Anne McKevitt, entrepreneur, TV personality, author and philanthropist
“There are two ways of meeting difficulties. You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them.” Phyllis Bottome, novelist and short story writer
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” Anne Bradstreet, America’s first published poet
“Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.” Julie Andrews, actress, singer, author

“Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.” Harriet Braiker, author and stress management expert

“Hope is a thing with feathers / That perches in the soul, / And sings the tune without words / And never stops at all.” Emily Dickinson, poet
“I believe you are your work. Don’t trade the stuff of your life, time, for nothing more than dollars. That’s a rotten bargain.” Rita Mae Brown, author and screenwriter
“Until you’re ready to look foolish, you’ll never have the possibility of being great.” Cher, recording artist, Emmy Award–winning television personality, award-winning actress, director, record producer and philanthropist

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” Maya Angelou, author and poet

“My best successes came on the heels of failures.” Barbara Corcoran, real estate investor, Shark on the ABC show Shark Tank, and real estate correspondent for NBC
“Big doesn’t necessarily mean better. Sunflowers aren’t better than violets.” Edna Ferber, author and playwright
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” Ella Fitzgerald, jazz and song vocalist

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” Margaret Fuller, journalist, critic, and women’s rights advocate

“Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.” Billie Burke, actress
“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.” Erica Jong, author and teacher
“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.” Madonna, recording artist, actress, and entrepreneur
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady

“What if you began to expect the best from any situation? Isn’t it possible that you could write new chapters in your life with happy endings? Suspend your disbelief? Take a leap of faith? After all, what have you got to lose but misery and lack?” Sarah Ban Breathnach, author

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.” Gilda Radner
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin, author
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank, writer
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? […] Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. […] It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson, spiritual activist, author, lecturer and founder of The Peace Alliance
“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” Indira Gandhi, first Indian female prime minister, leader of the Indian National Congress
“Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun.” Christina Rossetti, Author

“Life-fulfilling work is never about the money – when you feel true passion for something, you instinctively find ways to nurture it.” Eileen Fisher, fashion designer

“Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozey, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.” Billie Jean King, former professional tennis player
“I just want you to be yourself. Be a bigger yourself.” Tyra Banks, model, media personality, actress, entrepreneur
“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Harriet Beecher Stowe, writer
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” Barbara De Angelis, relationship consultant, speaker and author, TV personality

“You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West, actress, playwright, screenwriter

“In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential.” Suze Orman, financial advisor, author, motivational speaker, and television host
“Now, get out there and kick ass!” Stella McCartney, fashion designer