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Over the past few months, Kamala Harris has become a true household name.
From the moment she became Biden’s VP nominee, she made history. Now, with a successful presidential campaign behind her and the road to inauguration ahead, you’ll no doubt be seeing plenty of Kamala Harris merch, GIFs, articles, and Reddit posts hailing this empowering queen of a woman.
So in celebration of her historic achievement, we’ve assembled a collection of our favorite Kamala Harris quotes. We hope they inspire, uplift, and motivate you to take charge of your own life as well (in whatever form that is).
Here are some of Harris’ most iconic quotes from various campaign speeches, interviews, portions of her book (“The Truths We Hold”), and her own Twitter account. Enjoy!
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The Best Kamala Harris Quotes ABOUT Female Empowerment
You GO, girl! We’ve assembled some of our fave Kamala quotes that highlight her focus on empowerment for women of all ages.
“You never have to ask anyone for permission to lead. I want you to remember that, okay? When you want to lead, you lead.”
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last— because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
“I was raised to be an independent woman, not the victim of anything.”
“Here’s the truth people need to understand: To tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century, we must empower women and families. If we do not lift up women and families, everyone will fall short.”
“What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. But you remember that when you are in those rooms, you are not alone. We are all in that room with you applauding you on. Cheering your voice. And just so proud of you. So you use that voice and be strong.”
“Our mother was all of 5 feet tall, but if you ever met her, you would have thought she was 7 feet tall, and, you know, she was the kind of parent who would tell you, you know, you don’t let anyone tell you who you are– YOU tell them who you are.”
“My mother used to have a saying, and she would say to me, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last.’”
“There will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane.’ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been, instead of what can be. But don’t you let that burden you.”
“More women should run for office, and more women are running for office, and this is so exciting.”
“When we have an equal number of representatives in Congress— equal number meaning representative of who the population is as a whole— we will be better and stronger.”
“I’ve been a proud mentor to many women seeking public office, because I believe we need more women at all levels of government. Women have an equal stake in our future and should have an equal voice in our politics. These are challenging times, but I believe getting more women to run for office is a big part of the solution.”
“And let me just tell you, as president, I will fight every day for a woman to make the decision for herself, which means I will respect any woman who decides that is not the decision she wants to make, that she wants to make a different decision, but we have got to respect women in this country.”
“Tonight I reflect on their struggle, their determination, and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been. And I stand on their shoulders.”
“My mother was and will always remain my greatest hero.”
And of course, who could forget this ICONIC mic drop moment during the VP debate:
“I’m speaking. Excuse me, Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”
Kamala Harris Quotes That Tackle the Hard Issues
From abortion to racism and everything else in between, Kamala Harris has tactfully and dutifully addressed some of the most pressing issues in our world through her eloquent speeches. Here are a few snippets from our fave quotes of hers.
“This virus has no eyes, and yet it knows exactly how we see each other— and how we treat each other. And let’s be clear— there is no vaccine for racism. We’ve gotta do the work. For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name. For our children. For all of us.”
“Let’s speak the truth: People are protesting because Black people have been treated as less than human in America. Because our country has never fully addressed the systemic racism that has plagued our country since its earliest days. It is the duty of every American to fix. No longer can some wait on the sidelines, hoping for incremental change. In times like this, silence is complicity.”
“What I hope and pray is that we can get to a point where, through what are undoubtedly difficult conversations, we confront the real history of America. Doing it in a way that is motivated by love, but also is fully honest.”
“Racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, these issues are real in our country. And they are born out of hate, hate which, over the last couple of years, has received new fuel. And we need to call it out when we see it. And I feel very strongly that all of us must speak up when we see it, and that no one who is the subject of that hate should ever be made to fight alone.”
“We cannot tolerate a perspective that is about going backward and not understanding women have agency. Women have value. Women have authority to make decisions about their own lives and their own bodies.”
“But now, because of the smartphone, America and the world are seeing in vivid detail the brutality that communities have known for generations. You can’t deny. You can’t look away. It’s there. I do believe people are seeing the injustice of it all and are prepared to take action in a way that we’ve not seen before. And that gives me hope.”
Kamala Harris Quotes ABOUT Unity and Equality
It’s no secret that Kamala Harris stands for equality and a safe place for everyone to live in. Here are some of her best quotes that showcase her fight for a fair, equal place for all.
“Our unity is our strength, and our diversity is our power. We reject the myth of “us” vs. “them.” We are in this together.”
“I am not perfect. But I will always speak with decency and moral clarity and treat all people with dignity and respect. I will lead with integrity. I will speak the truth.”
“I know we are empowered. We are optimistic about our future. We know the strength of unity. We know the strength of America.”
“It’s about freedom, it’s about equality, it’s about dignity. When you achieve equality, and freedom, and fairness, it’s not because I grant it to you. It’s because you fought for it, because it is your right. This is not about benevolence or charity; it is about every human being’s God-given right. What do we collectively do to fight for that? That’s what justice represents to me— it’s about empowerment of the people.”
“We were founded on noble ideals. The ideals that were present when we wrote the Constitution of the United States and all of its amendments and the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. We said you are equal and should be treated that way.”
“[Unity] is not what some people might think, which is, ‘Hey everybody, come in the room, we’re all in the room together.’ No. Because what if one person in that room is telling another, ‘Oh, tone that down a little bit. This is not a time to talk about that. Be a little bit quieter about that for the sake of unity.’ That’s not unity. Unity is when everyone is respected and has an equal voice. We have to be very clear-eyed about what we mean, and that what we mean is not about a Hallmark card.”
“Let me tell you, the reason I made a very conscious decision to become a prosecutor was because I am the child of people who, like those today, were marching and shouting on the streets for justice.”
“A patriot is not someone who condones the conduct of our country whatever it does. It is someone who fights every day for the ideals of the country, whatever it takes.”
“I often advocate that we look at many sides of an issue, walk in someone else’s shoes, and identify and reject false choices.”
“Don’t give up– our country needs you now more than ever. This is a pivotal moment in the history of our country: Our ideals are at stake, and we all have to fight for who we are. We are all, and should be treated as, equals, but the disparity in terms of income and inequality, for women and women of color, is significant.”
“I am a child of community that was often on the not-great end of law enforcement, in terms of profiling and abuse. And the decision I made was, ‘I’m going to try and go inside the system, where I don’t have to ask permission to change what needs to be changed.’”
“We come from different backgrounds— but we were raised with the same values. Hard work. Honesty. Decency. A belief that we all have a responsibility to look out for one another.”
“To everyone keeping up the fight, you are doing something. You are the reason I know we are going to bring our country closer to realizing its great promise. But to do it, we’ll need to work, organize, and vote like never before, because we need more than a victory on November 3rd. We need a mandate that proves that the past few years do not represent who we are or who we aspire to be.”
“What’s important for my daughter to know is that… if you are fortunate to have opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other people have those opportunities as well.”
“I’m thinking about her and about the generations of women – Black women, Asian, white, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation’s history who have paved the way for this moment tonight. Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality, liberty, and justice for all, including the Black women, who are too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy. What a testament it is to Joe’s character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his Vice President. But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
“Because now is when the real work begins, the hard work, the necessary work, the good work, the essential work to save lives and beat this epidemic. To rebuild our economy, so it works for working people. To root out systemic racism in our justice system and society. To combat the climate crisis. To unite our country and heal the soul of our nation.”
“I’m opposed to any policy that would deny in our country any human being from access to public safety, public education, or public health, period.”
“Today we must vote like our lives depend on it. Because they do.
We must vote like our democracy depends on it. Because it does.
And we must vote like justice, equality, and opportunity are possible. Because they are.
– Via Twitter
“Years from now, our children and our grandchildren will look up and lock eyes with us. They will ask us where we were when the stakes were so high. They will ask us what it was like. I don’t want us to just tell them how we felt. I want us to tell them what we did.”
“In the years to come, what matters most is that we see ourselves in one another’s struggles.”
“Democracy just cannot flourish amid fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate. Justice cannot take root amid rage. America must get to work… We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred, and the mistrust.”
“My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come. My challenge to you is to join that effort. To stand up for our ideals and our values. Let’s not throw up our hands when it’s time to roll up our sleeves. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
“A family looks for ways to support and inspire one another.”
“@JoeBiden and I are ready to get COVID-19 under control. We’re ready to rebuild our economy. We’re ready to meet the challenges of the climate crisis. We’re ready to act to address systemic racism. And we’re ready to fight for you.”
– Via Twitter
“We have to act with fierce urgency. Justice demands it.”
“@JoeBiden knows that no matter where we come from or where we live, no matter our race or gender, background or faith; no matter how we identify or who we love; no matter the language your grandmother speaks—what we have in common is so much stronger than what divides us.”
– Via Twitter
“Together, united, as one country, we can be a force for change.”
“I often advocate that we look at many sides of an issue, walk in someone else’s shoes, and identify and reject false choices.”
The Best Kamala Harris Quotes About Leadership
If anyone is a true, emboldened leader, it’s Kamala Harris. She has truly been a force to be reckoned with throughout her entire career. These quotes showcase her fierce drive and the power of using leadership wisely and effectively.
“Anyone who claims to be a leader must speak like a leader. That means speaking with integrity and truth.”
“She’d tell us, ‘Don’t sit around and complain about things; do something.’ So I did something. I devoted my life to making real the words carved in the United States Supreme Court: Equal justice under law.”
“Now is the time to stand up.
Now is the time to speak out.
Now is the time to vote.
Your voice is your power— don’t let anyone take it away.”
“I just think it’s so important not to take yourself too seriously.”
Inspiring Kamala Harris Quotes
If you need motivation and some uplifting words, no one is better than Kamala Harris to be your best life coach. Read these quotes of hers to be rejuvenated and inspired (and then go out and change the world)!
“The American dream belongs to all of us.”
“I’ve had a lot of titles over my career, and certainly ‘Vice President’ will be great. But ‘Momala’ will always be the one that means the most.”
“Our country’s wounds can be healed. We just have to have the political courage to act.”
“There is a lot of work to do and I plan on seeing it through.”
“We must measure up to our words and fight for our ideals because the critical hour is upon us.”
“Optimism is the fuel driving every fight I’ve been in… the motivation comes from believing in what can be unburdened by what has been.”
“My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come.”
“The time for outrage is now. The time for solidarity is now. The time for action is now. The time for change is now.”
“Let’s not throw up our hands when it’s time to roll up our sleeves. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
“The measure of you is so much bigger than you; it’s the impact you have, it’s what you do in service to others. And that’s how I was raised. I was raised that it is not about charity and benevolence, it’s about your duty. No one’s going to congratulate you for it— it’s what you’re supposed to do.”
“My parents would bring me to protests strapped tightly in my stroller, and my mother, Shyamala, raised my sister, Maya, and me to believe that it was up to us and every generation of Americans to keep on marching.”
Kamala Harris Quotes About Democracy
For freedom, for democracy, for the people. Here are a few of Kamala Harris’ quotes and sayings about democracy and how we’re en route to building a better future for the next generations.
“Part of what makes us great are our democratic institutions that protect our fundamental ideals—freedom of religion and the rule of law, protection from discrimination based on national origin, freedom of the press, and a 200-year history as a nation built by immigrants.”
“Let’s fight with conviction. Let’s fight with hope. Let’s fight with confidence in ourselves, and a commitment to each other— to the America we know is possible, the America we love.”
“Our democracy is at its strongest and most powerful when everyone participates.”
“America’s democracy is not guaranteed. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it. To guard it, and never take it for granted and protecting our democracy takes struggle. It takes sacrifice. But there is joy in it. And there is progress. Because we the people have the power to build a better future.”
Kamala Harris Quotes About Diversity and Embracing Your Identity
As a proud woman of color, Kamala Harris is well-placed to represent every minority in the nation (and world) who hasn’t felt accepted, especially in the past few years. These are a few of her best quotes regarding the importance of embracing your identity and how you should always be proud of who you are.
“I mentor a lot of people. I will say to them that you will often find that you are the only one who looks like you in the room, be it around the conference table or in a meeting or wherever you are. But the thing to remember is you are never in that room alone. We are all in that room with you, expecting that you will use your voice, and use it with pride, and use it in a way that represents all of those who are in the room with you, but not physically there. It is part of the way that I approach my work and always have.”
“I’m really sick of having to explain my experiences with racism to people for them to understand that it exists.”
“When you [are introduced] for the first time, the greeting is not ‘Pleased to meet you.’ The greeting is ‘I see you.’ I see you as a complete human being. At this moment in time, it is so critically important in our country for all people to be seen in their full selves, in a way that gives them the dignity they deserve.”
We Hope You Enjoyed Our Roundup of Kamala Harris Quotes!
Let us know if we missed any of your fave Kamala quotes by dropping a comment below. We hope that this list served as the ULTIMATE source of inspo for your Insta captions, blog posts, and more about the queen herself– Madam Vice President, Kamala Harris!
