Bookmark this: 30 inspiring quotes to remind you of the power of women and girls.

Put it in your diaries ladies: Wednesday 8th of March is International Women’s Day.

It will be the 108th Women’s Day celebrated, with the first ever event held in 1909 in New York to mark the International Ladies Garment Worker’s Union strike from the year prior.

In the years since, International Women’s Day has seen some monumental events in the plight for women’s rights.

On International Women’s Day in 1914, Sylvia Pankhurst and her Suffragettes marched from Bow to Trafalgar Square in London, where she was arrested.

And on International Women’s Day in 1975, the women of Iceland staged their historic strike against unfair workplace practices, where 90% of of the female Icelandic  population did not go to their paid jobs and did not do any housework or parenting jobs the entire day.

This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is ‘Be Bold For Change’.

This means taking action – whether you are male, female, or non-binary – and working towards true gender parity.

In celebration, we’ve collected 30 of the most inspirational quotes written by, and about, the great women of our world: 

“You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” – Diane von Furstenberg.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

“Be first and be lonely.” – Ginni Rometty

“The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world.” – Ashley Rickards

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”  – Katharine Hepburn

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” –  Oprah Winfrey

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright

“I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.” –  Michelle Obama

“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” – Emma Stone

“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people - women as well as men.” - Susan B. Anthony

“Drama is very important in life: You have to come on with a bang. You never want to go out with a whimper.” - Julia Child

“Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.” - Hillary Clinton

“If women ran the world we wouldn't have wars, just intense negotiations every 28 days.” - Robin Williams

“I learned a long time ago that there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.” - Mia Hamm

“There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.” - Indira Gandhi

“Any time women come together with a collective intention, it's a powerful thing. Whether it's sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.” -  Phylicia Rashad

“When you’re through changing, you’re through.” - Martha Stewart

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”  - Maya Angelou

“Power is not given to you. You have to take it.”  - Beyonce Knowles

“I need to listen well so that I hear what is not said.” - Thuli Madonsela

“Girl power is about loving yourself and having confidence and strength from within, so even if you're not wearing a sexy outfit, you feel sexy.” - Nicole Scherzinger

“Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.” - Harper Lee

“Don’t live life in the past lane.” - Samantha Ettus

“You have what it takes to be a victorious, independent, fearless woman.” - Tyra Banks

“No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.” -  Muhammad Ali Jinnah

“If it is right for men to fight for their freedom, and God knows what the human race would be like today if men had not, since time began, fought for their freedom, then it is right for women to fight for their freedom and the freedom of the children they bear.” -  Emmeline Pankhurst

“I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men; they are far superior and always have been.” -  William Golding

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.” - Mary Shelley

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” - Margaret Thatcher

You can find out more about International Women’s Day here.