--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-esteem comes from being able to…" description: "\"Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.\" — Oprah Winfrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png" --- # Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in… ![“Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png) > “Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑esteem grows when you define your own reality and reject external judgments. **In simple terms:** Self‑esteem comes from self‑definition. Key Takeaway Define yourself, ignore critics. Themes self‑esteem authenticity independence identity Mood confident empowering Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - creative projects - personal branding - boundary setting - public speaking Key Concepts humanistic psychology self‑determination theory social comparison empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you strengthen inner validation? - What steps help you stay true to your values? A Different Perspective External opinions can still influence confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abide Judgments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abide-judgments-5005868/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Define World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-world-2921909/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Esteem Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem-comes-972971/) [Happiness and love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-and-love/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Judgment of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-of-others/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [High self-esteem comes from feeling like you have control over events not that events have control over you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/high-self-esteem-comes-from-feeling-like-you-have-control-over-events/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Confidence has nothing to do with what you look like. If you obsess over that, you'll end up being disappointed in yourself all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-seldes/confidence-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-look-like-if-you-obsess/) [Marian Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-seldes/) > [Self-esteem comes from who you have in your life. How you were raised. What you struggled with as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/self-esteem-comes-from-who-you-have-in-your-life-how-you-were-raised/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [We define a world. We build a house, then after building the house we enter into it and we never leave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-define-a-world-we-build-a-house-then-after-building-the-house-we/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Low self-esteem comes from who you assess yourself to be. It's about who you are, and I didn't think I was anything or anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/low-self-esteem-comes-from-who-you-assess-yourself-to-be-it-s-about/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [In our quest to define and describe the world, we have crisscrossed the oceans and continents, compiling exhaustive knowledge about its life forms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/in-our-quest-to-define-and-describe-the-world-we-have-crisscrossed/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [Self esteem comes from doing something and accomplishing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-lewis/self-esteem-comes-from-doing-something-and-accomplishing-something/) [Shari Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-lewis/) > [Self esteem comes from achievements. Not from lax standards and false praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/self-esteem-comes-from-achievements-not-from-lax-standards-and-false/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think self-esteem comes from work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-think-self-esteem-comes-from-work/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [Self-esteem comes from the self, not from acquisitions and approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/self-esteem-comes-from-the-self-not-from-acquisitions-and-approval/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Well, we all know that self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not what other people think of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/well-we-all-know-that-self-esteem-comes-from-what-you-think-of-you/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [...true self-esteem comes from competence, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/true-self-esteem-comes-from-competence-not-the-other-way-around/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Good self-esteem comes from positive self-imaging. Positive self-image make you to resist wrong definitions others give about you, guiding you to live life with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/good-self-esteem-comes-from-positive-self-imaging-positive-self-image/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Great self esteem comes from inside and feels hot and wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emme/great-self-esteem-comes-from-inside-and-feels-hot-and-wonderful/) [Emme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emme/) > [lack of self-esteem is what causes wars because people who really love themselves don't go out and try to fight other people ... It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/lack-of-self-esteem-is-what-causes-wars-because-people-who-really/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-define-the-world-in-your-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-define-the-world-in-your-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/oprah-winfrey-186_able_self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-def_2228929.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the…” — Oprah Winfrey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Self-esteem comes from being able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-define-the-world-in-your-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/self-esteem-comes-from-being-able-to-define-the-world-in-your-own/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```