These Gloria Steinem Quotes Stand The Test Of Time
These Gloria Steinem Quotes Stand The Test Of Time
Monica Torres Thu, September 3, 2026 at 8:48 PM UTC
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Gloria Steinem, the feminist icon, journalist and a defining leader of the women’s movement, died Thursday at 92.
Beyond her work as a social activist and one of the founders of the National Women’s Political Caucus, Steinem made her legacy by pushing for women’s equality as a co-founder of Ms. Magazine and as a prolific, gifted author of nine books.
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Steinem was a pioneering feminist who used her candid speeches and writing to challenge sexism during a time when women still needed a man’s signature to get a credit card.
She made the personal political and often used her platform to advocate for reproductive rights. She was outspoken about getting pregnant and having an illegal abortion in 1957, when she was 22 years old. Steinem later dedicated her 2015 book, “My Life on the Road,” to the doctor who recommended her for the abortion: “Dear Dr. Sharpe, I believe you, who knew the law was unjust, would not mind if I say this so long after your death: I’ve done the best I could with my life.”
Here is a selection of her best and most inspiring quotes from her books and interviews:
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Gloria Steinem used her writing to challenge assumptions of what women should be doing with their bodies.Janet Fries via Getty ImagesOn Women
“A liberated woman is one who has *** before marriage and a job after.” ― New York Magazine, 1969
“Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke. That’s their natural and first weapon. She will need her sisterhood.” ― New York Magazine, 1971
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“In my heart, I think a woman has two choices: Either she’s a feminist or a masochist.” ― The New York Times, 2001
“Don’t think about making women fit the world — think about making the world fit women.” ― Yale University, 2010
On Speaking Truth To Power
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” — “The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off!” 2019
On Equality
“When humans are ranked instead of linked, everyone loses,” — “My Life on the Road”
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On Reproductive Rights
“Listen, honey, if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” — The Guardian, 2015
“[Abortion] is supposed to make us a bad person. But I must say, I never felt that. I used to sit and try and figure out how old the child would be, trying to make myself feel guilty. But I never could!” — The Observer, 2011
“I live for the day when every economic course starts not with production but reproduction.” — Bennington College commencement address, 2015
On Writing
“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” — Gloria Steinem website
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On Learning
“We learn most where we know the least.” — “My Life on the Road”
On Self-Confidence
“Once we give up searching for approval we often find it easier to earn respect.” ― “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions,” 1983
“Somewhere within each of us, buried at varying depths depending on the age and degree of neglect or abuse, shame or coercion we endured, there is a resistant, daydreaming, rebellious, creative, unique child — a true self who is waiting.” — “Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem,” 1992
On Attitudes
“It’s said that the biggest determinant of our lives is whether we see the world as welcoming or hostile. Each becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” — “My Life on the Road”
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On Legacy
“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.” ― “Revolution from Within”
“People often ask me if I’m ‘passing the torch’ ... I’m keeping my torch, thank you very much — and I’m using it to light the torches of others.” –– “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions,” 1983
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