Oprah Winfrey Quotes



Extensive collection of Oprah Winfrey quotes. Let the wisdom of Oprah's words inspire you!

If you know someone who is about to graduate, check out Oprah's inspirational commencement speech for the Stanford class of 2008.

Oprah Winfrey Quotes Index

About Life
Adversity
Authenticity
Balance
Being a Mother
Being True to Yourself
Belief System
Confidence
Decision Making
Dreams
Excellence
Failure
Fear
Giving
Goals
God
Gratitude
Humorous
Integrity
Intuition
Learning
Living in the Now
Living Your Life Purpose
Love
New Years
Optimism
Patience
Positive Attitude
Prosperity
Risks
Self-Confidence
Self-Esteem
Spirituality
Success
Taking Care of Yourself
Weight and Body Image

About Life

"You cannot hate other people without hating your self."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Let not one single life have passed in vain. What really matters is who you love and how you love."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Adversity

"Turn your wounds into wisdom."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Authenticity

"What we're all striving for is authenticity, a spirit-to-spirit connection."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Let your light shine. Shine within you so that it can shine on someone else. Let your light shine. "
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Balance

"If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies. And if you run full speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose momentum to finish the race."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Being a Mother

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Being True to Yourself

"Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner's manual your creator gave you and destroying your design."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Belief System

"With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Every time you state what you want or believe, you're the first to hear it. It's a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don't put a ceiling on yourself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Don’t back down just to keep the peace. Standing up for your beliefs builds self-confidence and self-esteem."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"You are what you are by what you believe!"
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Confidence

"It is confidence in our bodies, minds and spirits that allows us to keep looking for new adventures, new directions to grow in, and new lessons to learn - which is what life is all about."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Decision Making

"As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I believe that uncertainty is really my spirit's way of whispering, ‘I'm in flux. I can't decide for you. Something is off-balance here.’"
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Understanding that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility. "
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Dreams

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Excellence

"I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Be more splendid, more extraordinary. Use every moment to fill yourself up. "
~ Oprah Winfrey

"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next moment."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Use what you have to run towards your best - that's how I now live my life."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"You become excellent, and when you become excellent, no-one can take that away from you."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Failure

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Fear

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

"I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I’ve learned not to worry about what might come next."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Giving

"I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Goals

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"If you want to accomplish the goals of your life, you have to begin with the spirit."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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God

"What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Gratitude

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Humorous

"I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Integrity

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Intuition

"Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself. "
~ Oprah Winfrey

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Learn to let your intuition—gut instinct—tell you when the food, the relationship, the job isn’t good for you (and conversely, when what you’re doing is just right)."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Learning

"Passports to new and exciting worlds... and I know that I would not be the person I am today had it not been for my love of reading."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Living in the Now

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

"I’ve learned not to worry about what might come next."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Living Your Life Purpose

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not be paid for it."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."
~ Oprah Winfrey"There is no paycheck that can equal the feeling of contentment that comes from being the person you are meant to be."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"The work of your life is to discover your purpose and get on with the business of living it out."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Love

"The roses, the lovely notes, the dining and dancing are all welcome and splendid. But when the Godiva is gone, the gift of real love is having someone who'll go the distance with you. Someone who, when the wedding day limo breaks down, is willing to share a seat on the bus."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Let not one single life have passed in vain. What really matters is who you love and how you love."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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New Years

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Optimism

"When I look into the future, it's so bright it burns my eyes."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Patience

"I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"You can have it all. You just can't have it all at once."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Positive Attitude

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"See, that's what geniuses know, ... They know they're a genius. When geniuses take the test they say, 'well, I'm a genius, of course, I'm going to score."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I believe that every single event in life happens is an opportunity to choose love over fear."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Prosperity

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only your own life, but in other people's lives."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Risks

"I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Self-Confidence

"I always knew I was destined for greatness."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Don’t back down just to keep the peace. Standing up for your beliefs builds self-confidence and self-esteem."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Self-Esteem

"In every aspect of our lives, we are always asking ourselves, How am I of value? What is my worth? Yet I believe that worthiness is our birthright."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Don’t back down just to keep the peace. Standing up for your beliefs builds self-confidence and self-esteem."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Spirituality

"It isn't until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are - not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down, the spirit within - that you can begin to take control."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Success

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"For everyone of us that succeeds, it's because there's somebody there to show you the way out. The light doesn't always necessarily have to be in your family; for me it was teachers and school."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not be paid for it."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Even the wildest dreams have to start somewhere. Allow yourself the time and space to let your mind wander and your imagination fly."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Everyone has to learn to think differently, bigger, to open to possibilities."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Taking Care of Yourself

"Think about any attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Consider letting them go."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Declare today 'sacred time'—off-limits to everyone, unless invited by you. Take care of your personal wants and needs. Say no, graciously but firmly, to others’ demands."
~ Oprah Winfrey

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Weight and Body Image

"I finally realized that being grateful to my body was key to giving more love to myself."
~ Oprah Winfrey

"Getting my lifelong weight struggle under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way."
~ Oprah Winfrey "I had literally starved myself for four months ? not a morsel of food ? to get into that pair of size 10 Calvin Klein jeans,"
~ Oprah Winfrey

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