Susan B. Anthony was a pioneering force in the fight for women’s rights and equality. Her words continue to inspire courage, independence, and social change. This article presents 99 of her most powerful and motivational quotes, each reflecting her unwavering commitment to justice and empowerment. These quotes serve as a beacon for anyone seeking inspiration to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
99 Best Susan B. Anthony Inspirational Quotes You Need to Read
1. Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.
2. If I could live another century! I do so want to see the fruition of the work for women in the past century.
3. We old fighters have prepared the way, and it is easier than it was fifty years ago when I first got into the harness.
4. The young blood, fresh with enthusiasm and with all the enlightenment of the twentieth century, must carry on the work.
5. I have received letters and telegrams from all over the world, but the one that has touched me most is a simple note which came from an old home of slavery.
6. Nothing speaks so strongly of freedom as the fact that the descendants of those who went through great agony have now full opportunities.
7. I am glad above all else that the time is coming when all women alike shall have the full rights of citizenship.
8. Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings.
9. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave.
10. Our lives are measured by these.
11. Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.
12. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance.
13. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel—the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.
14. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
15. I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth.
16. The sense of independence and security is very sweet.
17. Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place.
18. Think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.
19. Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.
20. I was born a heretic. I always distrusted people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.
21. I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.
22. There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.
23. Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform.
24. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation.
25. Publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.
26. Failure is impossible.
27. I pray every single moment of my life; not on my knees but with my work.
28. My prayer is to lift women to equality with men.
29. Work and worship are one with me.
30. Our job is not to make young women grateful. It is to make the ungrateful so they keep going.
31. Gratitude never radicalized anybody.
32. There shall never be another season of silence until women have the same rights men have on this green earth.
33. When a man says to me, ‘Let us work together in the great cause you have undertaken,’ then I shall say, ‘I am yours truly.’
34. But he must ask me to be his equal, not his slave.
35. Every woman should have a purse of her own.
36. The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.
37. It would be ridiculous to talk of male and female atmospheres, male and female springs or rains, male and female sunshine.
38. How much more ridiculous is it in relation to mind, to soul, to thought, where there is as undeniably no such thing as sex, to talk of male and female education and of male and female schools.
39. Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.
40. The one distinct feature of our Association has been the right of the individual opinion for every member.
41. We have been beset at every step with the cry that somebody was injuring the cause by the expression of some sentiments that differed with those held by the majority of mankind.
42. The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God.
43. Independence is happiness.
44. The women of this nation in 1876 have greater cause for discontent, rebellion and revolution than the men of 1776.
45. No man is good enough to govern any woman without her consent.
46. There is not a woman born who desires to eat the bread of dependence, no matter whether it be from the hand of father, husband, or brother.
47. Anyone who does so eat her bread places herself in the power of the person from whom she takes it.
48. I don’t want to die as long as I can work; the minute I cannot, I want to go.
49. The industrial upheavals of our time have exposed the unjust limitations placed upon women.
50. We must unite and demand not only the ballot but also a redefinition of our roles and rights in this changing society.
51. We shall some day be heeded, and when we shall have our amendment to the Constitution, everybody will think it was always so.
52. Many young people believe that all the privileges, all the freedom, all the enjoyments which woman now possesses always were hers.
53. They have no idea of how every single inch of ground that she stands upon today has been gained by the hard work of some little handful of women of the past.
54. There is great fear expressed on all sides lest this war shall be made a war for the negro.
55. I am willing that it shall be.
56. It is a war to found an empire on the negro in slavery, and shame on us if we do not make it a war to establish the negro in freedom.
57. Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.
58. I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.
59. The worst enemy women have is in the pulpit.
60. I do not assume that woman is better than man, but I do assume that woman is no worse.
61. Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.
62. The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.
63. Every woman should have a purse of her own.
64. I was born a heretic.
65. I always distrusted people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.
66. Failure is impossible.
67. Our job is not to make young women grateful.
68. It is to make the ungrateful so they keep going.
69. Gratitude never radicalized anybody.
70. There shall never be another season of silence until women have the same rights men have on this green earth.
71. When a man says to me, ‘Let us work together in the great cause you have undertaken,’ then I shall say, ‘I am yours truly.’
72. But he must ask me to be his equal, not his slave.
73. The one distinct feature of our Association has been the right of the individual opinion for every member.
74. We have been beset at every step with the cry that somebody was injuring the cause by the expression of some sentiments that differed with those held by the majority of mankind.
75. The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God.
76. Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.
77. Independence is happiness.
78. I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth.
79. The sense of independence and security is very sweet.
80. No man is good enough to govern any woman without her consent.
81. The industrial upheavals of our time have exposed the unjust limitations placed upon women.
82. We must unite and demand not only the ballot but also a redefinition of our roles and rights in this changing society.
83. I don’t want to die as long as I can work; the minute I cannot, I want to go.
84. There is not a woman born who desires to eat the bread of dependence, no matter whether it be from the hand of father, husband, or brother.
85. Anyone who does so eat her bread places herself in the power of the person from whom she takes it.
86. The women of this nation in 1876 have greater cause for discontent, rebellion and revolution than the men of 1776.
87. The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.
88. I pray every single moment of my life; not on my knees but with my work.
89. My prayer is to lift women to equality with men.
90. Work and worship are one with me.
91. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave.
92. Our lives are measured by these.
93. Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.
94. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance.
95. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel—the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.
96. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
97. Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place.
98. Think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.
99. Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.
Conclusion
Susan B. Anthony’s words remain a timeless source of inspiration for equality, justice, and empowerment. Her fearless advocacy and profound wisdom encourage us to protect our rights, pursue independence, and challenge injustice wherever it exists. By reflecting on these 99 quotes, we honor her legacy and renew our commitment to the ongoing struggle for a fairer and more inclusive society. Let her voice continue to guide and empower us in all our endeavors.
