164 Self-Love Quotes To Improve Your Self-Esteem

Reviewed by Ronald Hoang, Relationship & Family Counselor Ronald Hoang Ronald HoangRelationship & Family Counselor linkedin_iconyoutube_icon
Written by Sneha Tete
Edited by Asmita De
Fact-checked by Gracia Odile
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Self-love is a state where you work to better yourself and grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you are lacking inspiration, reading self-love quotes may help you gain self-confidence. So, love yourself first and work towards your personal goal to stay happy and love others in a healthy way. Zero in on your strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and failures, and learn to accept the way you are. This article lists some touching quotes on various aspects of self-love to help you further. Keep reading.

Self-Love Quotes To Make Yourself Stronger

  1. “One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others.” –Bell Hooks
  2. If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.” – Charles Bukowski
  3. Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.” – Deborah Day
  4. Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions … Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.” – Tina Fey
  5. Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” – Roy T. Bennett
  6. Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
  7. Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck
  8. “One day I woke up and realized I was not made for anyone, I was made for me. I am my own.” – Unknown
  9. “The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.” – Maya Angelou
  10. “I am accepting myself unconditionally no matter what.” – Unknown
  11. “I am not looking to escape my darkness, I’m learning to love myself here.” – Rune Lazuli
  12. “Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” – Unknown
  13. “A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Unknown
  14. “So then, the relationship of self to other is the complete realization that loving yourself is impossible without loving everything defined as other than yourself.” – Alan Watts
  15. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein
  16. “The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.” – Robert Hand

How you love yourself is how others will love you. So, be kind and stop criticizing yourself for not being good enough. Instead, go through these beautiful quotes and be proud of who you are. Own your story and progress towards your life’s purpose.

Happy And Beautiful Self-Love Quotes

  1. “People who love themselves, don’t hurt other people. The more we hate ourselves, the more we want others to suffer.” – Dan Pearce
  2. “I think no matter what you look like, the key first of all is to be happy with yourself. And then you know if you want to improve things you don’t like about yourself, then do it after you appreciate yourself.” – Adele
  3. “They will try to make you unhappy, don’t let them. They will try to tell you you’re not free, don’t listen.” – Unknown
  4. “Plant hope in your heart’s wounds.” – Alexandra Vasiliu
  5. “Learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn to admire your beauty without finding fault. Learn to love yourself without the love of others.” – Unknown
  6. “You really have to love yourself to get anything in this world done.” – Lucille Ball
  7. “You are free, you are powerful, you are good, you are love, you have value you have a purpose. All is well.” – Abraham Hicks
  8. “Your biggest commitment must always be to yourself.” – Bridgett Devoue
  9. “Feel the fact that you are enough.” – Mark Nepo
  10. “Heal yourself first. The rest will come later.” – Bianca Sparacino
  11. “Trust the next chapter because you are the author.” – Unknown
protip_icon Quick Tip
Take deliberate steps, make choices aligned with your values, and be an active participant in creating the life you envision.
  1. “When life puts you in touchy situations, don’t say, ‘Why me?’ Just say, ‘Try me.” – Dwayne Johnson
  2. “Be brave enough to heal yourself even when it hurts.” – Dalai Lama
  3. “Being comfortable in your own skin is one of the most important things to achieve. I’m still working on it.” – Kate Mara
  4. “Work on you, for you.” – Unknown
  5. “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” – Louise Hay

The next sections feature collections of short, funny, and inspirational self-love quotes to strengthen you mentally and motivate you towards a better life. Keep reading.

Short Self-Love Quotes

Short Self-Love Quotes
Image: IStock
  1. “Be the love you never received.”— Rune Lazuli
  2. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
  3. “The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off” – Robert Hand
  4. “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” – C. G. Jung
  5. Unconditional love is self-love only.” – Nitin Namdeo
  6. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
  7. “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – Carl Gustav Jung
  8. “Everything worth having costs something, and the price of true love is self-knowledge.” – Unknown
  9. “Fashion is my way to express how much I love myself.” – Laura Brunereau
  10. “Seek to be whole, not perfect.” – Oprah Winfrey
  11. “I am somebody. I am me. I like being me. And I need nobody to make me somebody.” – Louis L’Amour
  12. “Do things that make you feel good: mind, body, and soul.” – Robyn Conley Downs
  13. “You are not your mistakes. They are what you did. Not who you are.” – Lisa Lieberman-Wang
  14. “I’m doing it for me.” – Unknown
  15. “I love the person I’ve become because I fought to become her.” – Kaci Diane
  16. “Breathe darling, this is just a chapter. It’s not your whole story.” – S.C. Laurie

Sophia Ciocca, a blogger has shared her experience in a blog post about how she has developed self-love. She says “For now, I’m taking the time to do nothing. I’m going slower. I’m no longer filling my life with white noise or compulsively doing crossword puzzles. Sitting with myself feels bearable now — in fact, it’s starting to feel like home (i).”

Inspirational Quotes About Self-Love

Inspirational Quotes About Self-Love
Image: IStock
  1. “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball
  2. “Love yourself instead of abusing yourself.” – Karolina Kurkova
  3. “I don’t like myself, I’m crazy about myself.” – May West
  4. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Berne Brown
  5. “Be yourself. An original is so much better than a copy.” – Unknown
  6. “To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.” – Robert Morely
protip_icon Quick Tip
Begin your self-love journey with a daily affirmation ritual. Over time, this simple practice can transform the way you perceive yourself.
  1. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” – Unknown
  2. “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.” – Unknown
  3. “You are free, you are powerful, you are good, you are love, you have value, you have a purpose. All is well.” – A. Hicks
  4. “Believe in yourself a little more.” – Unknown
  5. “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right here.” – Venus William
  6. “Self confidence is the best outfit.” – Unknown
  7. “If we treated ourselves as well as we treated our best friend, can you imagine?.” – Meghan Markle
  8. “Remind yourself that you cannot fail at being yourself.” – Wayne Dyer
  9. “Beauty begins the moment you decided to be yourself.” – Coco Chanel

Funny Self-Love Quotes

Funny Self-Love Quotes
Image: IStock
  1. “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including yourself.” – Anne Lamott
  2. “If it costs you your peace of mind, you’ve overpaid.” – Rigel J. Dawson
  3. “This is my cup of care. Oh, look, it’s empty.” – Unknown
  4. “Do no harm. Take no shit.” – Unknown
  5. “Resting is a part of the process, even if it’s not a part of the plan.” – Carley Schweet
  6. “Be loud about the things that are important to you.” – Unknown
  7. “RIP to all the hours I spent explaining myself to other people.” – Unknown
  8. “Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” – A.A. Milne
  9. “There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” – Rumi
  10. “If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.” – Unknown
  11. “Be enough for yourself first. The rest of the world can wait.” – Unknown
  12. “A glowing woman can help other women glow and still be lit.” – Unknown
  13. “Strong women don’t have attitudes; they have standards.” – Unknown
  14. “I think everybody’s weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.” – Johnny Depp
  15. “One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” – A. A. Milne
  16. “If you’re searching for that one person that will change your life, take a look in the mirror.” – Unknown
  17. “Accept who you are. Unless you’re a serial killer.” – Ellen DeGeneres
  18. “When you realize your self-worth you’ll stop giving people discounts.” – Unknown
  19. “Self-love seems so often unrequited.” – Anthony Powell
  20. “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” – Mark Twain

Best Self-Love Quotes For Building Confidence

Best Self-Love Quotes For Building Confidence
Image: IStock
  1. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  2. “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William James
  3. “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” – Shannon L. Alder
  4. “To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.” – Sandra Bierig
  5. “The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” – Mark Twain
  6. “Trust your gut. Forgive yourself. Be grateful.” – Cheryl Strayed
  7. “Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face.” – Helen Keller
  8. “Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.” – André Gide
  9. “I just wanted to remind you, in case you needed to hear it, to be kind and loving to yourself, and talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.” – Camila Cabello
  10. “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  11. “You’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.” – Diane Von Furstenberg
  12. “It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” – W.C. Fields
  13. “The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.” – Rita Mae Brown
  14. “It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” – Sally Field
  15. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

With proper self love and care, you can attract more love and healthy relationships in your life. Read the following section to adore yourself and celebrate your uniqueness.

Positive Quotes About Self-Love

Positive Quotes About Self-Love
Image: IStock
  1. “Scarcity of self-value cannot be remedied by money, recognition, affection, attention or influence.” – Gary Zukav
  2. “Don’t let hollow heroes distract you from saving yourself.” – Nikki Rowe
  3. “You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” – Yogi Bahaman
  4. “When admiring other people’s gardens, don’t forget to tend to your own flowers.” – Sandbar Khan
  5. “Love others to make them feel better and so that you see yourself in the mirrors of their eyes.” – Debasish Mridha
  6. “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” – Mary Dunbar
  7. “Sometimes you have to be alone to truly know your worth.” – Karen A. Baquiran
  8. “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.” – William Shakespeare
  9. “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  10. “The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” – C. JoyBell C.
  11. “Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward.” – Roy Bennett
  12. “People that don’t know what they are worth will always see their capture’s wings, but never their tail.” – Shannon L. Alder
  13. “Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness.” – Jean Vanier
  14. “If only you knew how beautiful you are unconditionally. Don’t you know it’s enough if all you do is breathe?” – Unknown
  15. “She lacks confidence, she craves admiration insatiably. She lives on the reflections of herself in the eyes of others. She does not dare to be herself.” – Anais Nin
  16. “You are responsible for who you become… Love yourself, like your speed; Leave your scars; live your skills!” – Israel more Ayivor
  17. “Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are.” – Stephanie Lahart
  18. “Follow that will and that way which experience confirms to be your own.” – Carl Gustav Jung
  19. “The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.” – E. E. Cummings
  20. “I will love you through everything. Can you do yourself the same honor?” – Scott Stabile

Self love means giving a high priority to your well-being and happiness. It means taking care of your needs and not sacrificing your mental health to please others. Check out our next section for some deep self love quotes that will motivate you to hold yourself in high esteem.

Deep Self-Love Quotes

Deep Self-Love Quotes
Image: IStock
  1. “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone.” – Maya Angelou
  2. “The moment you know yourself you have known the most precious thing in existence.” – Osho
  3. “Respect yourself, love yourself, because there has never been a person like you and there never will be again.” – Osho
  4. “You can’t really love someone else unless you really love yourself first.” – Fred Rogers
  5. “Of all our infirmities, the most savage is to despise our being.” – Michel de Montaigne
  6. “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you won’t do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck
  7. “All people deserve your kindness, but none more so than you.” – Justin Kan
  8. “A person learns how to love himself through the simple acts of loving and being loved by someone else.” – Haruki Murakami
  9. “The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.” – Robert Hand
  10. “If you want to be faithful to someone or something, start by being faithful to yourself.” –Paulo Coelho
  11. “Feeling the oneness of yourself with all things is true love.” – Eckhart Tolle
  12. “Self-love is not so vile a sin as self-neglect.” – William Shakespeare
  13. “Don’t be hard on yourself. Be kind.” – Yoko Ono
  14. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  15. “It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” – Sally Field
  16. “Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity.” – Katrina Mayer
  17. “A man who loves himself takes the first step towards real love.” – Osho
  18. “It is absolutely necessary to flood your mind with positive thoughts about yourself.” – Iyanla Vanzant
  19. “Be kinder to yourself and then let your kindness flood the world.” – Pema Chödrön
  20. “You are beautiful. Know this. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply lying.” – Steve Maraboli

Self-love is another form of self-care. Practice self-love with these motivational quotes and give yourself a break from self-judgment and fear. Connect to yourselves and try to listen, understand, and accept your emotions. Scroll down for more information.

Motivational Quotes For Self-Love

Motivational Quotes For Self-Love
Image: IStock
  1. “To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.” – Robert Morely
  2. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor
  3. “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey
  4. “I wish I could make everyone understand how important this statement is: go where you are wanted.” – S. McNutt
  5. “She will rise. With a spine of steel and a roar like thunder, she will rise.” – Nicole Lyons
  6. “Bring the sun over my heart, I want to bloom.” – Alexandra Vasiliu
  7. “She remembered who she was and the game changed.” – Lalah Deliah
  8. “Either they like you or they don’t. Never try to convince somebody of your worth. If a person doesn’t appreciate you, they don’t deserve you. Respect yourself and be with people who truly value ‘you.” – Brigitte Nicole
  9. “There are no prerequisites to worthiness. You are born worthy.” – Unknown
  10. “Other people’s opinion of you, whether it’s good or bad, should not be grounds in which you base your self worth. Your value is inherent within you. What matters the most is whether you know you are worthy.” – Ash Alves
  11. “In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.” – Andrea Dykstra
  12. “Self care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia
  13. “Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.” – Osho
  14. “As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drowns me down and away from myself.” – Charlie Chaplin
  15. “And I said to my body, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath. And replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.” – Nayyirah Waheed

Let the world know of your new found self-love by posting a picture on Instagram with a quote. If you are looking for catchy quotes, then keep scrolling.

Self-Love Quotes for Instagram

  1. “Embrace the beautiful mess that you are.”
  2. “Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have. Choose love.”
  3. “Fall in love with taking care of yourself—mind, body, and spirit.”
  4. “You are your kind of beautiful. Celebrate it.”
  5. “Today, I chose me. Today, I choose love.”
  6. “Be your sunshine in a world full of clouds.”
  7. “Reminder: You are enough just as you are. Own it.”
  8. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious.”
  9. “Self-love is not selfish; it’s essential. Prioritize your well-being unapologetically.”
  10. “In the journey of self-discovery, be kind to yourself. You are a work in progress, and that’s perfectly okay.”

There are times when we wonder if we are suppressing ourselves too much and wasting time trying to be liked. If you are giving yourself less affection than you deserve, these self-love quotes can help you refuel. They will help you remind that you are perfect the way you are and only need to be yourself.

If you don’t love yourself, you will be plagued with insecurities and self-hatred all your life. It will seep into your relationships and ruin them. That is why self-love is so important. When you learn to love yourself, you embrace being you — the mistakes, accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, and every other part of you is accepted. Self-love pushes away those frustrating insecurities that keep telling you that you are never enough. We hope these self-love quotes make you embrace the person you are today and grow from your mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the self-love symbol?

There are several symbols of self-love. In Buddhism, a lotus flower symbolizes self-love, while some people regard the phoenix as a potent symbol of self-love.

Is self-love the best love?

Yes. The best love is the love you have for yourself. When you know how to love yourself, you can stay happy and make others happy.

Is self-love easy?

No. Self-love may not be easy for everyone. For that, you need to accept yourself first with all your imperfections. Accepting who you are and realizing your worth will help you love yourself.

Explore the importance of self-love for your overall mental well-being, personal growth, and happiness. Embrace these powerful quotes and cultivate a healthier sense of worth. Click to watch the video and boost your well-being!

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Ronald Hoang
Ronald HoangRelationship & Family Counselor
Ronald Hoang is a clinical counselor/psychotherapist based in Sydney, Australia, with close to a decade of experience. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Macquarie University and a postgraduate degree in counseling from the Australian College of Applied Professions.

Read full bio of Ronald Hoang
Sneha has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, a professional Relationship Coach diploma, and over four years of experience in writing. She writes about relationships and lifestyle.Sneha began her career as an instructional designer, shifted to freelance technical and research writing, and self-published a novella on the theme of adolescent mental health.

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Asmita De is an associate editor with over three years of experience. She graduated in English Literature from the University of Calcutta. She has collaborated with several digital companies and reputed publishing houses as an editor.

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Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology from the University of Madras, and a degree in education from GGSIPU.

Read full bio of Gracia Odile
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