Great Oprah Winfrey Quotes

Oprah's life is one of the most inspirational stories in the United States today. Millions of viewers around the world tune in to watch her TV talk show every weekday, and a great number of those people see her as a role model for their lives. Oprah likes to refer to "light bulb moments" or "a-ha moments" on her show. She's referring to those times when certain words click in your brain the right way such that you suddenly begin to understand something or begin to see the world in a different way.

Quotes are a great way to get a dose of inspiration--the quotes below are words of wisdom from Oprah herself that just might begin to spark a light bulb moment or two in your own mind.

Quotes About Success and Failure

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work. " Oprah Winfrey

"Never take a 'no' from somebody who isn't in a position to give you a 'yes' in the first place." Oprah Winfrey

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness." Oprah Winfrey

"Unless you choose to do great things with it, it makes no difference how much you are rewarded, or how much power you have." Oprah Winfrey

"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." Oprah Winfrey

"I don't believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process." Oprah Winfrey

"I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity." Oprah Winfrey

"I knew there was a way out. I knew there was another kind of life because I had read about it. I knew there were other places, and there was another way of being." Oprah Winfrey

Quotes About Living Life

"Partake in some of life's sweet pleasures. And yes, get comfortable with yourself." Oprah Winfrey

"Be more splendid, more extraordinary. Use every moment to fill yourself up." Oprah Winfrey

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams." Oprah Winfrey

Quotes About Personal Development and Responsibility

"We are each responsible for your own life--no other person is or even can be." Oprah Winfrey

"That guy just cut right in front of me. But I'm not going to let it bother me. No. I'm on my way to work and I decided it doesn't matter who wants to cut in front of my lane today. I'm not going to let it bother me one bit. Once I get to work, find myself a parking space, if somebody wants to jump ahead of me and take it, I'm going to let them." Oprah Winfrey

"In every aspect of our lives, we are always asking ourselves, How am I of value? What is my worth? Yet I believe that worthiness is our birthright." Oprah Winfrey
"With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice." Oprah Winfrey

Quotes About Overcoming Fear

"Every day, passion speaks to us through our feelings. That's why when you allow yourself to become anesthetized by what others think, you literally block yourself from living the life you were called to live. I promise you that if you make a choice that doesn't please your mate, your friends, your mother, or whoever, the world will not fall apart--the people who truly love you want you to love yourself. And as you become clearer about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you--the first time around." Oprah Winfrey

"Whatever you fear most has no power--it is your fear that has the power." Oprah Winfrey

"I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear." Oprah Winfrey

Quotes About Gratitude

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfrey

"What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you." Oprah Winfrey

Quotes About Race and Prejudice

"I'm black, I don't feel burdened by it and I don't think it's a huge responsibility. It's part of who I am. It does not define me." Oprah Winfrey

"I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life." Oprah Winfrey

"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good." Oprah Winfrey

Funny Quotes

"Mr. Right is coming. But He's in Africa and he's walking." Oprah Winfrey

"My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with." Oprah Winfrey

"The gift of real love is having someone who'll go the distance with you. Someone who, when the wedding day limo breaks down, is willing to share a seat on the bus." Oprah Winfrey