53 Quotes About Being Yourself, Scars, Ink and All

Rebel Jones
Oct 16
6 min read

I’ve never really fitted in. Not at school, not in my family, and definitely not in any tidy little box the world tried to shove me into.

I was always too quiet, too emotional, too difficult, too something. And for a long time, I thought that was a flaw.

But in truth, every scar, every scribble, and every slightly bad decision I’ve made along the way has shaped me far more than fitting in ever could.

Going back 20, 30 years, I wanted nothing more than to blend, to smooth out the edges, to stop being the odd one out. But now? I wear those edges like badges.

Some are tattooed, some are invisible, but all of them tell the story of me. Unapologetic, beautifully flawed, and still standing.

It's a far cry from growing up as the black sheep, were I leant to wear rejection like a hand-me-down jumper. Itchy. Scratchy. But I'd pretend it fitted because it’s all I had.

I remember my grandfather telling me, on several occasions, that I was 'using up tax payers money' for unavoidably becoming a single Mum. That I should stop chasing ridiculous dreams of having my own business, and follow societal expectations with a 'real job'. That I was useless. A disappointment.

And even now I can still hear the tone he used... matter-of-fact, as if he were pointing out the weather.

My mum was, perhaps less cruel, but her affection was selective at best. She mocked me for the extra weight I carried, and only seemed proud of my school grades or my artwork when she could use them to impress whichever new man was orbiting her world at the time.

So I grew up trying to please people who never cheered for me when it actually mattered.

For years, I twisted myself into someone smaller, quieter, easier to digest. The kind of person who said “yes” when I meant “not a chance”. The kind of person who laughed things off instead of speaking up.

And then, around 6 years ago, I found this tattoo artist who added, not only to my poor sample of stock design ink, but to my well-being, my self of sense and my journey, as we went on to become really good friends.

Now, let's not pretend I went for some cute butterfly-on-the-ankle ink. Oh no, I opted for the bold, unapologetic, these-are-my-scars-and-my-stories art. And the more ink I got, the more I started to recognise myself. Every new design felt like reclaiming a little piece of me... the version that was never quite good enough for other people.

Of course, the ink didn’t change who I was. But it did remind me who I’d been trying not to be. And honestly, there’s something quietly powerful about choosing to mark your skin with your own narrative. About saying, “This is mine. My story, my choice, my skin.”

Suddenly, the opinions that used to sting just… stopped sticking. I held my head higher. Walked a little prouder. Perfected the death stare for anyone who dared to suggest I’d 'ruined myself'.

Idiots. If only they knew.

Now, I look at my kids, 9 and 13, and hope they find that same strength. Not necessarily through tattoos, but through self-acceptance. I want them to feel comfortable in their own skin, proud of every step forward they take, and strong enough to help others find their feet when life knocks them sideways.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that trying to fit in is exhausting.

Being yourself, on the other hand? That’s freedom.

So if you’ve ever felt out of place, unwanted, or like you’re living in the wrong script, these 53 quotes about being yourself are for you. Whether you need a gentle reminder, a pep talk, or just something to throw back at the next person who tries to dull your sparkle, there’s something here to keep that inner fire burning.

53 Quotes About Being Yourself

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Don’t compromise yourself - you’re all you’ve got.” - Janis Joplin
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” - Brené Brown
“The things that make me different are the things that make me, me.” – A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
“No one is you, and that is your power.” - Dave Grohl
“Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. That’s your job.” - Lady Gaga
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.” - Lao Tzu
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” - Bernard M. Baruch
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” - E.E. Cummings
“Be yourself, but always your better self.” - Karl G. Maeser
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” - Marilyn Monroe
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” - Carl Jung
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” - Coco Chanel
“If you want to be original, be ready to be copied.” - Coco Chanel
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” - Steve Jobs
“Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves too.” - Unknown
“You change the world by being yourself.” - Yoko Ono
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou
“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.” - John Mason
“It’s better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.” - André Gide
“Don’t dilute yourself for any person or any reason. You are enough.” - Unknown
“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.” - Walt Disney
“The hardest battle you’re ever going to fight is the battle to be just you.” - Leo Buscaglia
“Be yourself. The world worships the original.” - Ingrid Bergman
“Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire.” - St. Catherine of Siena
“You are not too much. They’re simply not enough.” - Unknown
“Never apologise for being yourself.” - Paulo Coelho
“Authenticity is magnetic.” – Unknown
“When you truly don’t care what anyone thinks of you, you’ve reached a dangerously wonderful level of freedom.” - Unknown
“The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.” - Rita Mae Brown
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” - Katharine Hepburn
“Stop waiting for permission to be yourself.” - Unknown
“Confidence is not ‘they will like me’. Confidence is ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t’.” - Unknown
“Don’t ever change just to impress someone. Change because it makes you a better person.” - Unknown
“Be fearlessly authentic. Bravely yourself. Always.” - Unknown
“You have to be odd to be number one.” - Dr Seuss
“The more you embrace your true self, the happier you become.” - Unknown
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice.” - Steve Jobs
“Be yourself, there’s no one better qualified.” - Unknown
“Be the kind of person who makes others glad they stayed true to themselves.” - Unknown
“Never let anyone treat your uniqueness like a flaw.” – Unknown
“Your weirdness is your superpower.” - Unknown
“You were born to stand out, not fit in.” - Dr Seuss
“Be your own kind of beautiful.” - Unknown
“Confidence looks good on you. So does not caring what they think.” - Rebel Jones
“Don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable.” - Unknown
“Stay true to yourself because there are very few people who will stay true to you.” - Unknown
“Authenticity takes courage, but it’s always worth it.” – Unknown
“Being yourself is the most rebellious act there is.” - Unknown
“Never forget who you are, even when the world tries to make you.” - Unknown
“Shine so brightly that your light helps others find their way.” - Unknown
“You weren’t made to fit in. You were made to make waves.” - Unknown

Final Thoughts

Being yourself isn’t about perfection or pretending you’ve got it all together. It’s about showing up as you - messy, real, tattooed or not, emotional, still figuring it out, but honest enough to admit it.

So whether you’re a black sheep, a quiet rebel, or just someone still learning to love their own reflection, remember this: you don’t need permission to exist exactly as you are.

You already belong.

PS - if these quotes about being yourself hit the spot, you might also like 53 Self Confidence Quotes (For When You’re Dodging Mirrors in Tesco)