7 Favorite Eleanor Roosevelt Quotes

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was wife to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as First Lady of the United States during his unprecedented four terms. After his death in 1945, she was appointed U.S. Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and served the U.N. in various roles until 1952. Mrs. Roosevelt was a celebrated human rights activist, and the U.N. posthumously awarded her with the Human Rights Prize in 1968.

Eleanor Roosevelt was the most outspoken First Lady, and her quotes are widely known and published. Here are seven of my favorite quotes from Mrs. Roosevelt.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Feelings of inferiority can arise in us when others attempt to elicit those emotions deliberately, or our attitudes create them. In either case, recognize that emotions are unreliable because they are sometimes wrong.

The opposite of inferiority is superiority. If you compare yourself to others (or they do it for you), they may possess talents, skills, and abilities that are, in fact, superior to yours. However, that does not equate to superiority as a person. In a broader analysis, you likely are their equal or better in many ways.

If you feel intimidated or inferior, it’s not because of someone’s prerogative. Instead, it’s your choice how you feel. Emotional intelligence can help you recognize and control your emotions.

Again, emotions often cloud reality. So, if someone attempts to intimidate you or cause you to believe you're inferior, or it's your mind speaking negatively, don't consent to either. Withhold permission from both. 

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'”

Adversities, challenges, and dangers can trigger anxiety or produce absolute fear. You may have encountered hardship in the past or even tragedy that overwhelmed you. You may be facing a severe trial right now, or perhaps your future holds an impending and unavoidable calamity.

In any case, remember that experiences teach lessons that can’t be learned otherwise. Misfortune may be a hard teacher, but the knowledge, self-awareness, and experience gained are invaluable and are instructive for future encounters with adversity.

Courageously facing and overcoming misfortunes in many forms can strengthen your resolve, boosting your self-assurance that you can conquer any fear and surmount any challenge. Have confidence that because you have overcome, you will overcome.

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

This statement is direct and challenging as is so no need to elaborate. But, I’ll ask you: which of these topics—ideas, events, people—do you discuss most often?

“You must do the things you think you cannot do.”

Zig Ziglar said, “Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.”

You probably are capable of much more than you think you are. I know, there’s the Dunning–Kruger effect, which means that people of low-ability lack self-awareness of their actual levels of competence and incompetence. But, don't let this cognitive bias constrain you—take on stretch goals to develop a growth mindset.

Do not sell yourself short when facing a particular challenge by thinking from the outset you are incapable of success. Try anyway. The ability you possess may be sufficient, but without accepting the challenge, you don't know. Even if you don’t achieve your desired outcome, still you can learn and grow in the process.

Or, as Nelson Mandela put it, “I never lose. I either win or learn.” That’s why you must do the things you think you cannot do.

> You may also enjoy 7 Favorite Zig Ziglar Quotes.

“Understanding is a two-way street.”

I don’t care about understanding you, but I need you to understand me! Doesn’t it seem that’s what some people believe?

We live in a big yet small world among our fellow humans, and we have diverse values, beliefs, customs, and opinions. It seems that too often we embrace our ethnocentric attitudes that prevent our understanding one another. Our lack of thoughtful consideration for others is not focused at the nation-state level only, but even down to the individual level.

Our shared humanity requires a shared understanding of one another. It is a two-way street. And, I pledge to do better.

“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”

Rich Little, an impressionist with the moniker "The Man of a Thousand Voices," has entertained audiences for decades. But, unless that’s your profession as well, don’t try to impersonate others. Be yourself.

You bring a distinct skill set to your team, even if you’re one of ten in the same job. With your background and experiences, both personal and professional, you add value to the team in ways different from your colleagues.

Collectively, you and your teammates must work together toward common goals to be effective, but always be yourself. Your expertise and unique talents provide value that only you can offer.

“A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.”

With our ever-increasing obligations and the pace of life that goes with them, not to mention the screens we keep in our faces to maintain a nearly continuous connection to one another, life is far from being simple. And rational? If by rational you mean balanced, sensible, reasonable, wise, or healthy, then it’s debatable.

Mrs. Roosevelt, who died almost 56 years ago, said that simplification might make living more rational in her time. What on earth would she would she think today?

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Resources

• Listen to the author narrate this article here.
• Get a PDF of this article here.
• Learn more about Eleanor Roosevelt here.
• Find these quotes and more at www.brainyquote.com.
• You may also enjoy 7 Favorite Quotes from Earl Nightingale and Will Rogers. See other articles below.

Gary J. Lanham is an analyst in the Learning Group at OneMain Financial and an experienced manager, trainer, and presenter. He received his MBA from Winthrop University where he volunteers as a mentor in the Mentoring Business Minds program in the College of Business Administration. Gary helps people develop effective personal work styles by focusing on organization, prioritization, workflow, and time management. Follow Gary on LinkedIn or Twitter @GaryJLanham. Contact him at [email protected].

Learn more about Winthrop University at www.winthrop.edu. Follow on Twitter @winthropu.

Keywords: #EleanoreRoosevelt #challenge #confidence #courage