Many of us spend a great deal of our lives attempting to fit in. We might follow the crowd, try to conform to what society tells us we ought to be and even conceal our own thoughts just to go with the flow. We might do so because of our innate need for belonging and connection. Yet unfortunately, it can sometimes come at the cost of our own identity and authenticity. We’ll explore some powerful authenticity quotes below that help bring this concept to life.
If something is authentic (such as a book or document) it means it is legitimate or true. The same goes for someone, but it also runs a bit deeper than that. An authentic person is someone who is genuine and lives in accordance with their own personality, beliefs and core values. In fact, we are all born authentic, but often lose pieces of ourselves as we navigate life.
The challenge is not to let that happen.
Showing up as your true self is one of the bravest and most beautiful things you can do. It allows you to grow as a person and build real relationships. It can help you realize success at work and in your personal endeavors. Additionally, authenticity is one of the core traits of an effective leader.
All in all, as you go on your journey of discovering and honoring yourself, you can use this collection of authenticity quotes to guide you. They can help you accept your uniqueness and give you the courage to forge your own way in the world.
‘Be Authentic Quotes’ to Embrace Your Inner Self
Many of us are familiar with the wise words “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Though this well-known verse is likely paraphrased from author Oscar Wilde’s other quips (or written by someone else entirely), the concept itself is quite true. It’s a strong reminder for all of us to embrace our inner self.
You are wonderfully unique, shaped by your own innate traits, experiences and interactions. As a matter of fact, some might say you owe it to yourself—and those around you—to allow that inside light to shine through. This can be accomplished by exploring your strengths and weaknesses, establishing your core values and beliefs and by living in alignment with those findings. The following “be authentic” quotes will help you find the strength you need to fully embrace who you are at your core.
- “You’re born an original—don’t die a copy.” —John Mason, You’re Born an Original — Don’t Die a Copy
- “To be authentic is the highest form of praise. You’re fulfilling your mission and purpose on earth when you honor the real you. Your whole life becomes a prayer of thanksgiving.” —Oprah Winfrey
- “I must be myself. I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, that I will do strongly before the sun and moon whatever inly rejoices me, and the heart appoints.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Essay on Self-Reliance
- “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” —Dolly Parton
- “Stay true to yourself. When you are authentic, you create a certain energy… people want to be around you because you are unique.” —Andie MacDowell
- “Fulfillment comes from within you, by being authentic to yourself.” —Cameron Diaz
- “How does one become more authentic? To be authentic is to strip away the layers of pretense we have adopted to please others. To be authentic is to abandon the senseless roles we play to meet the imagined expectations of society.” —Anthon St. Maarten
Related: 36 ‘Know Your Worth’ Quotes to Boost Your Self-Esteem
Quotes About Keeping It Real: The Power of Being Genuine
Authenticity means showing up and being real regardless of the situation or who’s watching. It’s about being honest and open, standing up for what you believe and not hiding behind a false narrative. However, this is easier said than done. In addition, it can be scary to be so vulnerable in a world full of judgment and criticism. But the benefits of sticking to your guns far outweigh the drawbacks. You will find more fulfillment, more confidence, stronger relationships and higher levels of lifetime success.
In fact, these quotes about being genuine further illustrate what authenticity looks like in practice and how it can change your life for the better.
- “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” —Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
- “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” —Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
- “The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.” —Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
- “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” —André Gide, Autumn Leaves
- “For someone who is authentic, the daily default way of life doesn’t involve decisions or will power: the default is openness, there is no issue of control vs. transparency.” —Charles H. Green
- “Genuine people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. They are firmly grounded in reality, and they’re truly present in each moment because they’re not trying to figure out someone else’s agenda or worrying about their own.” —Travis Bradberry
- “Live authentically. Why would you continue to compromise something that’s beautiful to create something that is fake?” —Steve Maraboli, Life, The Truth, and Being Free
Related: 50 Quotes About Strength: Words to Boost Your Inner Power
Authentic Leadership Quotes to Inspire
One position where authenticity is absolutely vital is in leadership. Whatever the end goal may be—at work or in other areas of life—someone who is authentic will get you there faster and more efficiently. Why? Because these sorts of leaders build trust with those around them through honesty, consistency and transparency. They embody the principles they impart on others and create an environment of mutual respect where wisdom flows both ways. Most importantly, though, truly genuine leaders never forget the direction they are headed or why they started the journey in the first place.
Learn more about what it takes to be an authentic leader from the profound words below, taken from accomplished business executives and leadership experts themselves.
- “Once you find your authentic path and follow it, all the other puzzle pieces start to fall into place: the money, the job, the relationship.” —Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance
- “The journey to authentic leadership begins with understanding the story of your life. Your life story provides the context for your experiences, and through it, you can find the inspiration to make an impact in the world.” —Bill George, Discovering Your Authentic Leadership
- “The most precious commodity any leader possesses is authenticity.” —Marcus Buckingham
- “Authenticity is when you say and do the things you actually believe. But if you don’t know WHY the organization or the products exist on a level beyond WHAT you do, then it is impossible to know if the things you say or do are consistent with your WHY. Without WHY, any attempt at authenticity will almost always be inauthentic.” —Simon Sinek, Start With Why
- “Instead, true leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed. They believe leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection.” —Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In
- “Authentic leaders don’t wear a mask. They are vulnerable and reveal their true selves to the world. They demonstrate by example and are true to their word.” —Jeff Davis
- “Authentic leaders in every setting—from families to nation-states—aim at liberating the heart, their own and others, so that its powers can liberate the world.” —Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak
Sayings to Help Us Live an Authentic Life
Living an authentic life is all about the choices you make every single day. You honor yourself and the values instilled in you when you continually hold yourself accountable, speak up when you need to and refuse to fit into a mold. These original, authentic self quotes from SUCCESS® are an everyday reminder not to lose hold or faith. Use them to inspire the real you.
- “Your authentic self is a gift to the world. Don’t be afraid to show it off every single day of your life.”
- “Revealing your true self is a beautiful kind of vulnerability.”
- “Stop acting and be real. You may be surprised by how freeing and powerful authenticity feels.”
- “True peace and happiness can only come from honoring yourself, not pleasing others.”
- “Embrace your differences and idiosyncrasies, for those are your strengths.”
- “Authenticity doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes it’s just a silent commitment to stick to your values and be genuine, despite outside pressures.”
- “As isolating as it may be in the moment, acting genuinely beats going with the flow every time.”
- “Perfection isn’t just unrealistic, it’s impossible. So, why not try being real and raw instead?”
- “Authenticity means never putting up a front and always aligning out actions with our beliefs.”
- “If your thoughts and ideas never clash with anyone else’s, chances are you aren’t living as your authentic self.”
Quotes on Courageous Authenticity: Being True Despite the Pressure
In theory, living authentically sounds effortless—it is our natural state of being, after all. But, in reality, it takes quite a bit of willpower, boldness and even courage to be true to yourself. Lean on the following quotes focused on courageous authenticity and the beauty that can come from daring to be different.
- “To be nobody-but-yourself-in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else-means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” —E.E. Cummings, “A Poet’s Advice”
- “Be courageous and authentic as you dream the world into being, for it is only with awareness and respect for the laws of the universe that miracles can and will be discovered, like many treasures hidden in plain sight.” —Colette Baron-Reid
- “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” —Steve Jobs
- “Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.” —Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
- “Dare to declare who you are. It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech.” —St. Hildegard of Bingen
- “Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never apologize for it.” —Mandy Hale, The Single Woman
- “Courage is when you dare to be yourself, in whatever ways you want to be. To not be afraid, to just do it.” —Loung Ung
Tips for Staying Authentic No Matter What Life Brings
You may find yourself in situations where you’re pressured to follow the crowd or in a room where your opinion is the only one that is different. These are the sort of scenarios that require you to be strong and steadfast in your beliefs. If you ever find yourself struggling, the following tips can help you to stand your ground and avoid falling into a trap of people pleasing or insincerity:
- Stay connected to your values and your “why.”
- Set healthy boundaries.
- Practice self-compassion and self-acceptance.
- Accept that not everyone you meet will align with your beliefs, and that’s okay.
- Always speak honestly yet respectfully.
- Create an encouraging support system.
- Trust your gut.
The Power of Living Authentically
Living your own life your way is not only freeing but transformative. In a world where conformity is the norm, it takes self-respect, courage and commitment to be authentic. But the effort is well worth it. Authenticity can unlock the door to deeper fulfillment, stronger relationships and success in all aspects of life. So, dare to be different even when everyone else is blending. Dare to be real even when it’s hard. And, most importantly, dare to be unapologetically you.
Photo by Ground Picture/Shutterstock
