Best 10 Oprah Winfrey Motivational Quotes

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Namrata Roy

06 November 2023

9 Mins

Turn your words into wisdom" - Oprah Winfrey.

A phenomenal Talk Show host, actress, philanthropist, and author, Oprah Winfrey has always amazed us with her wisdom and sheer willpower. Best known for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” her primary focus has always been to promote mindfulness, spirituality, literature, and self-improvement. She was born poor, but she did not allow poverty to decide her destiny.

Oprah Gail Winfrey has eventually transformed herself into a pioneer of mental health awareness and removed the stigma worldwide despite being born to an underprivileged family in Mississippi. Undoubtedly, she climbed the ladder of struggle to become one of the wealthiest and most successful African Americans of her era - the 20th Century.

But why consider Oprah’s opinions and quotes when we talk about success?

Among a thousand other reasons, the best one might be that she had an unquenchable thirst to gain knowledge and an irrepressible will to become successful one day since childhood. She went on to be the Forbes top 10 richest self-made women of America (Yass queen!), even though she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

You must have heard of the famous term, The Oprah Effect - It depicts the colossal influence she has on any commercial product. If she endorses a book, chances are, the book will be a bestseller in the future. That's the level of success he has achieved today, and mind you - she is a cent-percent self-made person.

Today, we can say that her words have really turned into wisdom for people who seriously wish to achieve affluence and fame in life. So instead of Googling “quotes on success” or “life success quotes” on the internet, read this blog to find the best 10 surprising Oprah Winfrey opinions and quotes on success and life.


I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.

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It is by far one of the best success quotes you will ever find in Google. Let's face it - almost everybody has our own unique dreams that we always wanted to achieve but couldn’t due to the lack of courage to take risks. Trust me; I have been there too.

We often overthink about the adverse outcomes that our plans might entail and step back from investing our time, labor, and money into it. But you have to break through that threshold and evolve into a more confident person about his actions and skills.

People will doubt you, undervalue your struggles, mock you and laugh at you for stepping into an unconventional path, but they should never have the power to control your ambitions. It is your life, and only you can decide the way you want it to be. So, let go of the imposter feeling in you, and start to build the life of your dreams. You are brave - BELIEVE IN YOURSELF and take the leap of faith.


Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.

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When you decide to turn your dreams into reality, anxiety often comes in as an unwanted sidekick. The best way to conquer it is to practice mindfulness regularly. Being mindful is all about living in the present. When you feel restless, all you have to do is close your eyes and live in the moment.

This is one of Oprah’s successful thoughts that actually relates to mental health in many aspects. Mindfulness can provide you with a more stress-free attitude towards reality and helps you focus on improving your current situation. The future might not be in your hands, but your present definitely is.

So breathe and let go of all the imposter thoughts that cloud your mind. Remember that the key to success lies in the way you act in this very moment. Hustle hard without worrying about the future, and watch as things fall in place.


The great courageous act that we must all do is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams.

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Oprah Is the living example of this quote. She swept aside all the prejudices that society imposed upon her and eventually became one of the most successful and influential women on Earth. She had the guts to step out of her poverty and change her future forever. If she could - so can you!

When you look for motivational quotes for success, you might often come across this - “It's not in your hands if you are born rich, but it is in your hands to die rich.” This one line sum up Oprah Winfrey’s entire life journey.

Make mistakes, learn from them, and keep marching forward. Remember - even the Phoenix rises from the ashes. It's ok if your past did not turn out the way you wanted it to be. You have the power to transform your future even better than you have imagined.


Remember, you are not alone. On Now&Me, you will find a community that truly cares about you. Unbottle your emotions anonymously here without the fear of being judged.


You get from this life what you have the courage to ask for.

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By now, you must have realized one thing every quote of Oprah has in common - Courage. It takes an immense amount of courage to be yourself unapologetically amid a judgemental society. Be fearless enough to be true to yourself and not live up to the expectations of others from you.

Have the courage to face your failures. Have the courage to rebuild everything from scratch every time you fall. Have the courage to encounter rejections and dismissal. Have the courage to begin.

But first things first - have the courage to DREAM. The road to success might not be a bed of roses. Don't let the fear of failure stop you from achieving your goals. Make this one of your motivational quotes or thought for the day and start hustling like never before.


Life is really about moving on.

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Let go and move on - Make this your success mantra, and nothing can stop you anymore. But why does moving on seem so difficult? It is because the moment when something goes wrong, we tend to go into a state of analysis paralysis. It's OK to analyze what went wrong, but it's not ok to keep brooding over it.

You cannot expect to succeed in life if you carry the baggage of your failure from the past. Your past experiences should teach you valuable lessons but not kill your productivity. To continue striving towards your goal, you must acknowledge that defeat is a part of life and learn to progress.

When Oprah Winfrey said - Life is really about moving on, she showed the world how to do it like a boss lady.


Find mental health resources and helpful blogs on mental health and emotional well-being on Now&Me - a community platform that changes lives. Share your thoughts anonymously and be the most vulnerable version of yourself without being judged.


I was once afraid of people saying, “Who does she think she is?” Now, I have the courage to stand and say, “This is who I am.”

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No, you don't have to look out for success captions for Instagram in Google anymore. You have already found the ultimate one! Self-acceptance can be the most potent weapon in your arsenal as you embark on a journey towards changing your destiny.

Be the way you always wanted to be and not how others want to see you. Since childhood, we have been conditioned in such a way that people-pleasing has become a natural thing for us. The phenomenal Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey, through her own life, gives us a mighty lesson of breaking barriers.

Start setting boundaries for yourself and raise your voice to take control of your own life. You should always be nice to the people around you but not at the cost of your happiness and peace of mind.


Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world on your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgment of others.

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You start feeling better about yourself when you refuse to abide by other people's judgment. In order to succeed in life, it is imperative to have high self-esteem. You should be confident about your dreams and have faith in your skills. It can have a positive effect on your health, job, and personal life.

When Oprah Winfrey talks about defining the world on your own terms, she asks us to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling at its best. You can't achieve success if you are not satisfied with what you are doing.

Bollywood has gifted us with an evergreen song that reminds us every day - “Kuchh toh log kahengey, logon ka kaam hain kehnaa. Chhodo bekaar ki baaton mein kaheen beet na jaaye rainaa.” Kishore Kumar or Oprah Winfrey - whoever it be, they have made their point loud and clear.


Surround yourself with people who are only going to take you higher.

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I believe this is Oprah Winfrey’s best quote about success and achievement. Your company has the power to make or break you. Surround yourself with supportive people who are always ready to lift you higher.

Achieving your goals might be an ordeal if you are surrounded by negative people who constantly try to pull you down. Your acquaintances should make your journey towards success a smoother ride.

Connect more with people who are already producing the results which you want from yourself in the future. Make more friends who are goal-oriented, hardworking, and realize the value of being self-made. People whose elixir are ambition and dreams are more likely to push you towards success with their positive energy.


The thing you fear the most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free.

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You can unleash the best version of yourself the moment you implement this thought in your life. Calling this just a quote would be an understatement. It is your ultimate key to success once and for all.

Fear is one strong emotion that holds you back, and conquering it is not an easy task. But remember what Winfrey said - It is your fear that has the power to scare you. The moment you acknowledge your fear, it becomes powerless, and you are no longer scared by it.

Whenever you are afraid of something, try to redefine it. Reframe your situation through positive thinking and focus on the absolute truth. Ask this question to yourself if you are afraid of failing - how can I grow as a person from this experience, and what learning will I take away from it?


When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.

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Last but not least, you have to stop underestimating your worth right now. Tailor your confidence in such a way that you believe - you are born to do more extraordinary things in life.

Undervaluing yourself can cost you a lot. It can lower your self-esteem and create a negative impact on your mental health. What’s the point of achieving success if you are not happy with it? Learn to reward yourself for every minor achievement and realize how valuable you are and you can be to this world.

When Shahrukh Khan said, “Don’t underestimate the power of a common man,” the world laughed, but only a few realized that this one punchline has the power to move mountains. Who did it better - Oprah or Bollywood?


Read more: 7 Healthy Habits for a Healthy Life & How to Cultivate them How can Self-Care Change Your Life? 5 Best Therapies That Can Reduce Your Anxiety

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