74 Inspiring Quotes on Being Assertive (SUCCESS)

Top 12 Most Famous Quotes on Being Assertive (BEST)

“The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to fake the reality of who we are or what we esteem in order to avoid disapproval; the willingness to stand up for ourselves and our ideas in appropriate ways in appropriate contexts.”
Nathaniel Branden

Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, yes when we should say no. - William Glasser — Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, yes when we should say no. – William Glasser

The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others. - Sharon Anthony Bower — The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others. – Sharon Anthony Bower

“Once you have a major success with assertiveness, you learn that it’s a much healthier path than being a doormat to the insensitive folks. You gain respect for yourself, have more time for your priorities, and develop authentic and healthier relationships.”
Doreen Virtue

Being assertive and somewhat really firm has to be backed up with being fair. – **Gordon Ramsay**

“Staying silent is like a slow growing cancer to the soul and a trait of a true coward. There is nothing intelligent about not standing up for yourself. You may not win every battle. However, everyone will at least know what you stood for—YOU.”
Shannon L. Alder

The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything. - Warren Buffett — The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything. – **Warren Buffett**

The word 'seek' means to go in search of, try to discover, try to acquire. It requires an active, assertive approach to life. - Joseph B. Wirthlin — The word ‘seek’ means to go in search of, try to discover, try to acquire. It requires an active, assertive approach to life. – Joseph B. Wirthlin

“It is naïve to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively–which means to live authentically–is an act of high courage. That is why so many people spend the better part of their lives in hiding–from others and also from themselves.”
Nathaniel Branden

Assertiveness is not what you do, it's who you are! - Shakti Gawain — Assertiveness is not what you do, it’s who you are! – Shakti Gawain

“To be passive is to let others decide for you. To be aggressive is to decide for others. To be assertive is to decide for yourself. And to trust that there is enough, that you are enough.”
Edith Eva Eger

“One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”
Jacinda Ardern

6 Inspirational Quotes on Being Assertive that Will Pave Way for Your Success

“It is extremely important to be able to make negative assertions. We must be able to say what is ‘not me’ in order to have a ‘me’. What we like has no meaning unless we know what we don’t like. Our yes has no meaning if we never say no. My chosen profession has no passion if ‘just anyone would do’. Our opinions and thoughts mean very little if there is nothing we disagree with.”
Henry Cloud

Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it. - Malcolm X — Nobody can give you **freedom**. Nobody can give you **equality** or **justice** or anything. If you’re a man, you take it. – **Malcolm X**

Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl. - Benjamin Jowett — Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl. – Benjamin Jowett

Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong. - Charles F. Glassman — Be **calm**; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong. – Charles F. Glassman

“If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness. You are moving out into life rather than contracting and withdrawing.”
Nathaniel Branden

The best gifts are never given, but claimed. - Warren Ellis — The best **gifts** are never given, but claimed. – Warren Ellis

8 Encouraging Quotes on Being Assertive that Will Raise Your Confidence

“It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, “It’s easy for her, she has good self-esteem.” One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. There are always times when self-assertiveness requires courage, no matter how high your self-esteem.”
Nathaniel Branden

Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality. - Shannon L. Alder — **Confidence** is knowing who you are and not **changing** it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality. – **Shannon L. Alder**

Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes. - Eleanor Roosevelt — Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes. – **Eleanor Roosevelt**

“I think naturally, if you’re an actor, there’s a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There’s boldness in being assertive, and there’s strength and confidence.”
Bryan Cranston

I encourage people to remember that no is a complete sentence. - Gavin de Becker — I **encourage** people to remember that “no” is a complete sentence. – Gavin de Becker

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt — Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt

“The opposite of self-assertiveness is self-abnegation–abandoning or submerging your personal values, judgment, and interests. Some people tell themselves this is a virtue. It is a “virtue” that corrodes self-esteem.”
Nathaniel Branden

I've worked very hard at understanding myself, learning to be assertive. I'm past the point where I worry about people liking me. - Pam Dawber — I’ve worked very hard at understanding myself, learning to be assertive. I’m past the point where I worry about people liking me. – Pam Dawber

2 Quotes on Being Assertive Against Bullies

“We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.”
Theodore Roosevelt

A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness. - Nathaniel Branden — A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness. – Nathaniel Branden

5 Quotes on Being Assertive For Better Communication

“I catch fire and find the reserves of courage and assertiveness to speak up. When that happens I get quite carried away. My blood gets hot my brow wet I become unbearably and unconscionably sarcastic and bellicose I am girded for a total showdown.”
William F. Buckley, Jr.

Being assertive does not mean attacking or ignoring others feelings. It means that you are willing to hold up for yourself fairly-without attacking others. - Albert Ellis — Being assertive does not mean attacking or ignoring others feelings. It means that you are willing to hold up for yourself fairly-without attacking others. – Albert Ellis

Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues. - Wes Fesler — Being assertive in the home does not produce any **smiling** faces, but it does bring out a few tongues. – Wes Fesler

Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive. - Jim Rohn — Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic **communication** styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive. – **Jim Rohn**

The only healthy communication style is assertive communication. - Jim Rohn — The only healthy communication style is assertive communication. – Jim Rohn

11 Powerful Quotes on Being Assertive for Women

“I’ve always been attracted to women who are assertive and have confidence – qualities older women possess. They’ve been on the Earth a little longer. They’re more seasoned. They don’t play games. They know what they want, and they’re not afraid to tell you.”
Taye Diggs

Women are a little more assertive in terms of our ability to express our feelings when we fall in love. - Alicia Machado — Women are a little more assertive in terms of our ability to express our feelings when we fall in **love**. – Alicia Machado

We must teach our girls that if they speak their mind, they can create the world they want to see. - Robyn Silverman — We must teach our girls that if they speak their mind, they can create the world they want to see. – Robyn Silverman

“Women pay attention to how men drive because it’s a good indicator of what kind of character you have. They want someone who’s going to be intelligent and cautious and assertive and confident when you need to be, but not overly aggressive and reckless, and also not timid and overly paranoid.”
James Marsden

We needed to be assertive as women in those days - assertive and aggressive - and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where you were. I had to be. - Katherine Johnson — We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where you were. I had to be. – Katherine Johnson

The minute you step into a job where you have to be at all tough and assertive, that's when the mischief happens. And you're not allowed to be assertive and feminine. - Marcia Clark — The minute you step into a job where you have to be at all tough and assertive, that’s when the mischief happens. And you’re not allowed to be assertive and feminine. – Marcia Clark

“As women, we understand our bodies, and there’s a blossoming that occurs. We’re hungry for gourmet meals instead of the fast food. We bring to life a more expansive understanding of life, ourselves, and others. We are more generous and assertive.”
Sharon Stone

I know in the business world, some women won't speak if there are men in meetings for fear of being seen as too assertive. - Whitney Wolfe Herd — I know in the business world, some women won’t speak if there are men in meetings for fear of being seen as too assertive. – Whitney Wolfe Herd

“Using the word ‘bossy’ for girls can be quite harmful. What is that saying – that being focused, being assertive, being the boss has a negative attribute? And I have heard that term associated more with women than with men. ‘He’s so bossy’ – you don’t hear that. It’s a very subtle thing.”
Bryce Dallas Howard

“Being a feminist is not about how successful, talented, and assertive you are in your own life. It’s about whether you support the struggle to overcome the limiting gendered stereotypes and barriers that force so many women to restrict their aspirations as workers, to fulfill their aspirations as parents, and force so many men to do the opposite.”
Stephanie Coontz

“I’d like to see mothers at home be more assertive, be unapologetic, give themselves permission, and to stand up for themselves as an equal parent, whether that is being a parent who’s authoritative and needs to discipline and put healthy boundaries in, or to serve out the candy.”
Jo Frost

10 Quotes on Being Assertive in Politics

“Only a dynamic and strategically-minded America, together with a unifying Europe, can jointly promote a larger and more vital West, one capable of acting as a responsible partner to the rising and increasingly assertive East.”
Zbigniew Brzezinski

Eurasia is home to most of the world's politically assertive and dynamic states. - Zbigniew Brzezinski — Eurasia is home to most of the world’s politically assertive and dynamic states. – Zbigniew Brzezinski

With the decline of America's global preeminence, weaker countries will be more susceptible to the assertive influence of major regional powers. - Zbigniew Brzezinski — With the decline of America’s global preeminence, weaker countries will be more susceptible to the assertive influence of major regional powers. – Zbigniew Brzezinski

“If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.”
Arlen Specter

Grace Portolesi is a strong, assertive passionate young woman and she is precisely the sort of person I want in my cabinet and she will have a senior role. - Jay Weatherill — Grace Portolesi is a strong, assertive passionate young woman and she is precisely the sort of person I want in my cabinet and she will have a senior role. – Jay Weatherill

China has a more assertive, proactive foreign policy as its interests are growing around the world. - Henry Paulson — China has a more assertive, proactive foreign policy as its interests are growing around the world. – Henry Paulson

“While we always strive to reach 218 with Republican votes, sometimes that is not possible with divided government, and the story of a bill that passed with 150 Republican votes is much more positive and assertive than the story of a bill that passes with 79 Republican votes.”
Steve Scalise

When I came into politics, I remember reading these scorecards of my performance, and I would routinely have these comments about not being assertive enough. - Jacinda Ardern — When I came into politics, I remember reading these scorecards of my performance, and I would routinely have these comments about not being assertive enough. – Jacinda Ardern

“Canadians are hardly assertive or demanding. We don’t expect U.S. presidents to bow down to our prime ministers when they visit us in Ottawa, nor are we looking for the occasional kickback on an F-16 deal.”
Vaclav Smil

“Reasonable people can disagree about the authorities the NSA should have, when it’s appropriate for the CIA to use drone strikes, and how assertive U.S. foreign policy and intelligence should be.”
Benjamin Wittes

2 Quotes on Being Assertive in Sports

Of course you don't want to make outs on the bases, but there are times you have to be assertive in order to get other things that you want. - Joe Maddon — Of course you don’t want to make outs on the bases, but there are times you have to be assertive in order to get other things that you want. – Joe Maddon

You need to receive the ball and be assertive with it. - Joachim Low — You need to receive the ball and be assertive with it. – Joachim Low

18 Quotes on Being Assertive That Will Make You Think

“Mother Nature’s ruthless to the weak, but isn’t arbitrary cruel or negative. Mother Nature saves aggression for extreme situations, and instead uses consistent leadership–to help keep things running smoothly. Mother nature doesn’t rule by fear and anger, but by calm strength and assertiveness.”
Cesar Millan

There is a fine line between assertiveness and being relaxed. - Justin Guarini — There is a fine line between assertiveness and being **relaxed**. – Justin Guarini

One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is challenging your limiting beliefs. - Nathaniel Branden — One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is **challenging** your limiting beliefs. – Nathaniel Branden

Assertiveness is most effective when least applied. - Wes Fesler — Assertiveness is most effective when least applied. – Wes Fesler

“There are a lot of negotiators that really will give in on a deal because being understood is more important than getting what they want. And there’s a particular type in particular, the assertive negotiator: being understood is actually more important to them than actually making the deal.”
Christopher Voss

I'd like to be more assertive when it comes to confrontation. I'm fine on the pitch, but off the pitch, I'm a bit of a softy. - Steph Houghton — I’d like to be more assertive when it comes to confrontation. I’m fine on the pitch, but off the pitch, I’m a bit of a softy. – Steph Houghton

The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry. - William F. Buckley, Jr. — The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry. – William F. Buckley, Jr.

“I’ve often said I don’t lose my temper as much as use it. I don’t do either unless I have to because I love peace and harmony, but when you step in my territory, I will call you on it.”
Dolly Parton

Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye. - Gordon Ramsay — Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it’s too assertive to the naked eye. – **Gordon Ramsay**

I need to learn to be more assertive. - Brooke Elliott — I need to learn to be more assertive. – Brooke Elliott

“If you are going to take away war toys, then what are you to replace them with? Children need to feel courageous, brave, and assertive. They need to feel strong; that is the purpose of their play.”
Brian Sutton-Smith

It's not harsh to be assertive, it's harsher when people take advantage of you. - Janna Cachola — It’s not harsh to be assertive, it’s harsher when people take advantage of you. – Janna Cachola

The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive. - V. S. Pritchett — The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive. – V. S. Pritchett

“I don’t even really see sit-ins and marches as passive. I see them as quite assertive. I see those as emotionally aggressive tactics. I see people putting their lives on the line and being bold and brave.”
Ava DuVernay