16 Encouraging Emma Watson Quotes

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images / Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

From the breakthrough role of a lifetime as Hermione Granger, "the brightest witch of her age," in the Harry Potter film franchise to her turn as bookish Belle in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Emma Watson has built herself a career playing clever women. The real-life Brown University graduate has a sharp mind and strong voice of her own, which she employs in interviews, on social media, and at various United Nations events in her capacity as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Though she's no slacker when it comes to winning celebrity style points, she's more than a fashion icon: to plenty of fans, she's a role model with a good head on her shoulders, and the heart to match. To celebrate her birthday (she was born on April 15, 1990), here are some of her most powerful quotes.

1. ON EMBRACING STRENGTH

Emma Watson could have joined the MCU.
Emma Watson could have joined the MCU. / Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

"I feel like young girls are told they have to be a princess, and be delicate and fragile, and that's bulls**t. I identify much more with the idea of being a warrior, being a fighter. If I was going to be a princess, I'd be a warrior princess, definitely. I think women are scared of feeling powerful and strong and brave sometimes. I think you’ve got to embrace it."

— From a July 2011 press conference

2. ON SELF-DETERMINATION

Emma Watson attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England.
Emma Watson attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England. / Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

“I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.”

— From a 2009 interview with Elle

3. ON DREAMING BIG

Emma Watson attends the Elle Style Awards 2014 at one Embankment on February 18, 2014 in London, England.
Emma Watson attends the Elle Style Awards 2014 at one Embankment on February 18, 2014 in London, England. / Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

"I want to be a Renaissance woman. I want to paint, and I want to write, and I want to act, and I want to just do everything."

From a November 2010 Q&A with Time

4. ON SCREWING UP ONCE IN A WHILE

Emma Watson attends the UK premiere of 'Noah' at Odeon Leicester Square on March 31, 2014 in London, England.
Emma Watson attends the UK premiere of 'Noah' at Odeon Leicester Square on March 31, 2014 in London, England. / Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

"I don’t want the fear of failure to stop me from doing what I really care about."

From a June 2011 feature in Vogue

5. ON SCREWING UP, PART TWO

Actress Emma Watson attends 'The Bling Ring' premiere during The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2013 in Cannes, France.
Actress Emma Watson attends 'The Bling Ring' premiere during The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2013 in Cannes, France. / Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

"You only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn."

From a September 2012 interview with The Telegraph

6. ON PATIENTLY WORKING TOWARD CHANGE

A tweet by Emma Watson reads: '@TaylaGregson @HeforShe Don't expect change to happen overnight, even if its not always visible it's making more impact than you think'
A tweet by Emma Watson reads: '@TaylaGregson @HeforShe Don't expect change to happen overnight, even if its not always visible it's making more impact than you think' / @EmmaWatson, Twitter

"Don't expect change to happen overnight, even if its not always visible it's making more impact than you think"

From a January 2015 livechat on Twitter

7. ON WHAT TO DO WITH A B.A. IN ENGLISH

Emma Watson attends the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Emma Watson attends the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. / Christopher Polk/Getty Images

"I’ve been very fulfilled by my studies. English has helped me think in an analytical way. It’s helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness to my own life. And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity. I’m sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting."

From a February 2014 interview with Wonderland magazine

8. ON PHOTOSHOP AND IMPERFECTIONS

Emma Watson attends the premiere of Paramount Pictures' 'NOAH' at Zoo Palast on March 13, 2014 in Berlin, Germany.
Emma Watson attends the premiere of Paramount Pictures' 'NOAH' at Zoo Palast on March 13, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. / Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

"With airbrushing and digital manipulation, fashion can project an unobtainable image that’s dangerously unhealthy. I’m excited about the aging process. I’m more interested in women who aren’t perfect. They’re more compelling."

From a March 2014 interview with The Sunday Times

9. ON PLAYING BY HER OWN RULES

Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'This Is The End' at the Regency Village Theatre on June 3, 2013 in Westwood, California.
Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'This Is The End' at the Regency Village Theatre on June 3, 2013 in Westwood, California. / Jason Kempin/Getty Images

“All I can do is follow my instincts, because I'll never please everyone.”

From a February 2012 interview with The Independent

10. ON DEFYING SEXIST STEREOTYPES

A screenshot of an Emma Watson tweet encouraging a fan to 'Become an engineer.'
A screenshot of an Emma Watson tweet encouraging a fan to 'Become an engineer.' / @EmmaWatson, Twitter

From a January 2015 livechat on Twitter

11. ON RE-READING BOOKS

Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of A24's 'The Bling Ring' at Directors Guild Of America on June 4, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Actress Emma Watson attends the premiere of A24's 'The Bling Ring' at Directors Guild Of America on June 4, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. / Jason Kempin/Getty Images

"I like books that aren't just lovely but that have memories in themselves. Just like playing a song, picking up a book again that has memories can take you back to another place or another time."

From a November 2010 Q&A with Time

12. ON BELIEVING IN, AND BEING, YOURSELF

Emma Watson attends the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
Emma Watson attends the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. / Christopher Polk/Getty Images

"Becoming yourself is really hard and confusing, and it’s a process. I was completely the eager beaver in school, I was the girl in the front of the class who was the first person to put her hand up, and it’s often not cool to be the person that puts themself out there, and I’ve often gotten teased mercilessly, but I found that ultimately if you truly pour your heart into what you believe in—even if it makes you vulnerable—amazing things can and will happen."

From her 2013 MTV Movie Awards "Trailblazer" acceptance speech

13. ON NATURAL BEAUTY

Actress Emma Watson attends 'The Bling Ring' press conference during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festival on May 16, 2013 in Cannes, France.
Actress Emma Watson attends 'The Bling Ring' press conference during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festival on May 16, 2013 in Cannes, France. / Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Image

"I truly, truly believe that beauty is something that comes from within. You can only really look beautiful if you feel beautiful on the inside. It shows through your face, the way you move and the way you hold yourself."

From a September 2011 interview with Hello! magazine

14. ON LOVING AND LEARNING

Actress and model Emma Watson attends the GQ Men Of The Year Awards at The Royal Opera House on September 6, 2011 in London, England.
Actress and model Emma Watson attends the GQ Men Of The Year Awards at The Royal Opera House on September 6, 2011 in London, England. / Chris Jackson/Getty Images

"When I started dating I had this kind of Romeo and Juliet, fateful romantic idea about love which was almost that you were a victim and there was a lot of pain involved and that was how it should be. Shakespeare said the course of true love never did run smooth, and I had this sense that it had to be painful. It was such a revelation [...] to realize that it shouldn’t be that way and that you get to choose who you love and who you decide to give your heart to.

"It sounds like a cliché but I also learnt that you’re not going to fall for the right person until you really love yourself and feel good about how you are. Well, that was revelatory to me.”

From a September 2012 interview with The Telegraph

15. ON COURAGE

Actress Emma Watson attends the Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'This Is The End' at Regency Village Theatre on June 3, 2013 in Westwood, California.
Actress Emma Watson attends the Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'This Is The End' at Regency Village Theatre on June 3, 2013 in Westwood, California. / Jason Kempin/Getty Images

"There's nothing wrong with being afraid. It's not the absence of fear; it's overcoming it. Sometimes you've got to blast through and have faith."

— From a July 2011 press conference

16. ON CELEBRATING LIFE’S LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

An Emma Watson tweet reads: 'I never feel so accomplished as when I open a tough jar.'
An Emma Watson tweet reads: 'I never feel so accomplished as when I open a tough jar.' / @EmmaWatson, Twitter

"I never feel so accomplished as when I open a tough jar."

From a November 2012 tweet

This story was first published in 2016.