A curated register of quotes from under-represented voices.

“ Turn your wounds into wisdom. ”

— Oprah Winfrey

“ Blood, sweat and respect. First two you give, the last one you earn. ”

— Dwayne Johnson, 2012

“ I remember that love conquers fear, always, and that to be a man means accepting myself, weaknesses and all. That's my true superpower. ”

— Terry Crews, 2014

“ A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ”

— Christopher Reeve, 1998

“ I'm trying to take the stigma off the word ambitious, so we encourage more little girls to be ambitious, because I do think that's how society will change. ”

— Reese Witherspoon

“ I encourage women to step up. Don't wait for somebody to ask you. ”

— Reese Witherspoon

“ The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. ”

— Viola Davis, 2015

“ I think having a baby sliced out of you is pretty hardcore. ”

— Ali Wong, 2015

“ I use my platform for more than just myself. To neglect the political is to neglect what essentially is your job of storytelling. ”

— Zendaya

“ Let's let everybody know it's okay to have a mental illness, it's okay to have an addiction problem. ”

— Demi Lovato, 2018

“ Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. ”

— Laverne Cox

“ I'm not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character. ”

— Awkwafina, 2019

“ Why not me? ”

— Mindy Kaling, 2015

“ There is not an industry I can think of where there is equal pay for equal work, or abuse of power doesn't exist, for men and for women. And so equality is not a political issue, it's a humanitarian issue. ”

— Cate Blanchett, 2018

“ Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. ”

— Michelle Yeoh, 2023

“ There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. ”

— Elliot Page, 2023

“ Europeans didn't vibe with the way women held power in many Native societies. ”

— Lily Gladstone, 2023

“ Language brings with it an identity and a culture, or at least the perception of it. A shared language says 'We're the same.' A language barrier says 'We're different.' ”

— Trevor Noah, 2016

“ If your dream only includes you, it's too small. ”

— Ava DuVernay

“ I shall dance all my life. ”

— Josephine Baker

“ I know that the ones who love us will miss us. ”

— Keanu Reeves, 2019