Article image

15 Quotes for Overcoming Self-Doubt

Self-doubt can be a difficult emotion to overcome. It can sap our motivation and deter us from trying new things. Luckily, there are ways to manage doubt and build up our confidence. By recognizing our strengths, learning to challenge negative thoughts, and practicing self-compassion, we can learn how to deal with our insecurities in a healthy way.

When self-doubt starts to creep up, we can start by listing three skills or abilities we know we possess. As we do this, we might start to notice negative thoughts arise. This is perfectly normal, and often, if we can stop and recognize them, we can address those thoughts head on.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to be kind to ourselves. Everyone struggles with self-doubt from time to time, even the most seemingly impressive and successful people. In the name of solidarity, we’ve collected 15 of our favorite quotes about self-doubt to share here. Knowing that we’re not alone in these feelings can help us choose not to listen to the negativity, and persist in whatever it is we’re endeavoring to do.

To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.
Yann Martel, author

Share Quote

A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.
Ambrose Bierce, writer

Share Quote

You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you can sit quietly by the wall, receding into the shadows of fear and self-doubt.
Oprah Winfrey

Share Quote

If you don’t have some self-doubts and fears when you pursue a dream, then you haven’t dreamed big enough.
Joe Vitale, spiritual teacher and author

Share Quote

I can’t think of anyone I admire who isn’t fueled by self-doubt. It’s an essential ingredient. It’s the grit in the oyster.
Richard Eyre, director and playwright

Share Quote

Self-doubt is real. Everyone has it. Having confidence and losing confidence is real, too, and everyone has been in that position.
Venus Williams

Share Quote

I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, “My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.” We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.
Kobe Bryant

Share Quote

When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.
Honoré de Balzac, novelist and playwright

Share Quote

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
Suzy Kassem, screenwriter

Share Quote

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
J.M. Barrie, author of “Peter Pan”

Share Quote

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
Sylvia Plath

Share Quote

Stop worrying about how it’s gonna happen and start believing that it will.
Michaela Olexova, designer

Share Quote

It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.
Hanoch McCarty, author

Share Quote

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare

Share Quote

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie, writer and lecturer

Share Quote

Photo credit: 9dream studio/ Shutterstock

Author image
About the Author
April Dávila
April Dávila is a lover of words. Her debut novel "142 Ostriches" was released in 2020.
Play more header background
Play more icon
Daily Question
Who said, "Jump off the cliff and learn how to make wings on the way down"?

More Inspiration

happiness theme icon

If you want to look good in front of thousands, you have to outwork thousands in front of nobody.

separator icon
Damian Lillard
motivation theme icon

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

separator icon
Miyamoto Musashi
hope theme icon

Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.

separator icon
Henry David Thoreau
love theme icon

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

separator icon
Bertrand Russell
wisdom theme icon

Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control.

separator icon
Jack Kornfield
happiness theme icon

It is not worthy of a human being to give up.

separator icon
Alva Myrdal
motivation theme icon

The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.

separator icon
Alfred Adler
hope theme icon

The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.

separator icon
Kevin Kelly
love theme icon

It isn't a sadness, but a joy, that we don't do the same things for the length of our lives.

separator icon
Gabrielle Zevin
wisdom theme icon

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.

separator icon
Madeleine L'Engle
happiness theme icon

The meaning of life is to find your gift. To find your gift is happiness.

separator icon
Terry Pratchett