40+ Madam C.J. Walker Quotes From The First Black Female Millionaire

Divya Raghav
Dec 12, 2023 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Mar 11, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
a stamp printed in the USA shows Madam C. J. Walker, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and the First Female, self-made Millionaire in America, Black Heritage, circa 1998
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Age: 0-99
Read time: 6.4 Min

Madam C.J. Walker was a famed black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist.

Walker created her fortune by developing and selling a line of cosmetics and hair care products for black women through her business, the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. She became the first successful black female millionaire, a huge achievement!

Throughout her successful life, she made monetary donations to various different charities and organizations and became a patron of the humanities. Therefore Madam C J Walker quotes are not only in abundance but are also very inspirational (as you would expect from one of the earliest female self-made millionaires).

Let's look at some Madam C J Walker quotes from the self-made millionaire herself. If you like these Madam C J Walker quotes then you should definitely read our women in business quotes and John D. Rockefeller quotes too.

Inspirational Madam CJ Walker Quotes

Ready to discover the best Madam C J Walker quotes? These inspirational Madam C J Walker quotes will inspire you.

1. "Whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights."

- Madam C J Walker.

2. "If I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard."

- Madam C J Walker.

3. "I am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavor to provide employment for hundreds of the women of my race."

- Madam C J Walker.

4. “Having a good article for the market is one thing, putting it properly before the public is another.”

- Madam C J Walker.

5. "I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it!"

- Madam C J Walker.

6. "Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."

- Madam C J Walker.

7. "Love’s language is imprecise, fits more like mittens than gloves."

- Madam C J Walker.

8. "My object in life is not simply to make money for myself."

- Madam C J Walker.

9. "I want you to understand that your first duty is to humanity."

- Madam C J Walker.

10. "I want others to look at us and see that we care not just about ourselves but about others."

- Madam C J Walker.

The Best Madam CJ Walker Famous Quotes

Close-up of the hands of a businessman in a suit signing or writing a document.

Some inspirational C J Walker quotes are really famous too.

11. " I feel that I am in a business that is a credit to the womanhood of our race."

- Madam C J Walker.

12. "... don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!"

- Madam C J Walker.

13. "Keep in mind that you have something that the person standing before you really needs, imagine yourself a missionary and convert him."

- Madam C J Walker.

14. "I love to use a part of what I make to help others."

Madam C J Walker.

15. "You might say that I was the first and caused others to awaken to the sense of their duty in helping deserving causes for the benefit of the race."

- Madam C J Walker.

16. "Iwant the great masses of my people to take greater pride in their personal appearance and to give their hair proper attention."

-  Madam C J Walker.

17. "People are ugly not in their face but in their thoughts."

- Madam C J Walker.

18. "Never get impressed by someone’s appearance, rather dig deep down into their thoughts to reveal the real person inside out."

- Madam C J Walker.

19. "It’s pretty hard for the Lord to guide you if you haven’t made up your mind which way to go."

- Madam C J Walker.

20. "I have always held myself out as a hair culturist. I grow hair."

- Madam C J Walker.

Inspirational Quotes From The First Black Millionaire

Find inspirational quotes from the owner of the Madame C.J Walker manufacturing company. There are many quotes from black women throughout history that are hugely inspiring, and these are certainly among them.

21. "I have built my own factory on my own ground!"

- Madam C J Walker.

22. "Surely you are not going to shut the door in my face."

-  Madam C J Walker.

23. "I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South."

- Madam C J Walker.

24. "I was promoted from there to the washtub, then I was promoted to the cook kitchen, and from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations."

- Madam C J Walker.

25. "I am not ashamed of my past. I am not ashamed of my humble beginning."

- Madam C J Walker.

26. "Now I realize that in the so-called higher walks of life, many were prone to look down upon ‘hairdressers’ as they called us, they didn't."

- Madam C J Walker.

27. "I had to go down and dignify this work, so much so that many of the best women of our race are now engaged in this line of business, and many of them are now in my employ."

- Madam C J Walker.

28. "America doesn’t respect anything but money. What our people need is a few millionaires."

- Madam C J Walker.

29. "I have not found it for I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard."

-  Madam C J Walker.

30. "There is no royal flower-strewn path to success."

- Madam C J Walker.

Entrepreneurship Quotes From Madam C J Walker

Can you find an inspirational quotation about entrepreneurship among these self-made C J Walker quotes?

31. "I got my start by giving myself a start."

- Madam C J Walker.

32. "One night I had a dream... that dream... told me what to mix up for my hair. I made up my mind I would begin to sell it."

- Madam C J Walker.

33. "We must not let our love of country, our patriotic loyalty cause us to abate one whit in our protest against wrong and injustice."

- Madam C.J Walker.

34. "Girls and women of our race must not be afraid to take hold of business endeavor and, by patient industry, close economy, determined effort, and close application to business, wring success out of a number of business opportunities that lie at their doors."

- Madam C.J Walker.

35. "Everybody told me I was making a mistake by going into this business, but I know how to grow hair as well as I know how to grow cotton."

- Madam C.J Walker.

36. "I employ in that factory seven people, including a bookkeeper, a stenographer, a cook and a house girl."

- Madam C.J Walker.

37. "Hair is power. You can’t imagine what it is like to lose it."

- Madam C.J Walker.

38. "There would be no hair growing business today had I not started it."

- Madam C.J Walker.

39. "Britain has invented a new missile. It’s called the civil servant, it doesn’t work and it can’t be fired."

- Madame C.J Walker

40. "I refuse to be labeled immoral merely because I am godless."

- Madam C.J Walker.

41. "One can slide between poor and rich."

- Madam C.J Walker.

42. "Open your own shop. Secure prosperity and freedom."

- Madam C.J Walker.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 40+ Madam C.J Walker quotes, then why not take a look at these Howard Schultz quotes or Herb Kelleher quotes for more?

Main image credit: Boris15 / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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