Emma Watson is known for a lot of things. Most of all, she’s been set as the image of Hermione Granger in most of the world’s mind. More than that, however, she’s an incredibly powerful woman. Not only does she have a brilliant mind and outstanding acting skills, she has a way with words that I’ve always been fond of. She’s so much more than a pretty face to watch on the television. She’s strong and brave and so incredibly influential.
Here are a few quotes that are good to live by and keep in the back of your mind.
1. “Young girls are told you have to be the delicate princess. Hermione taught them that you can be the warrior.”
It’s the first on this list and probably the best of all the things Emma has said. Girls are always given this standard to live by; stand tall, stay out of it, put on a pretty face. Hermione was never that girl and neither is Emma. It’s such an important lesson to young women that you can be whoever you want to be, even if that isn’t a princess. It teaches girls that the world is ours as well and that you can fight back, you can do anything you want to do. You can be a strong warrior if that’s what you want to be.
2. “I truly, truly believe that beauty comes from within.”
It’s probably something we’ve all heard and yet, it continues to be an issue. We are all too quick to judge on things that don’t matter. We look at someone’s clothes, the car they drive, their makeup, their job, their hair, their sexuality, their skin color; all these things that don’t define a person. What defines someone is their passion for things they love, how they treat other people, how kind they are, how big of a heart they have. Those are the things that matter, those are the things that show your beauty. Being kind, intelligent, strong, brave, considerate… those traits are what shows everyone just how incredibly beautiful you are.
3. “There’s nothing interesting about looking perfect.”
Think about it. It’s not the perfect things we notice about others or the things that capture our attention on first glance. It’s an outgoing outfit, a bold lip color, a loud laugh, bright eyes, or a wide smile. It’s the imperfect or diverse things about all of us that define us and make us different. It’s important to step back and accept all of the small things that make you special and so unlike anyone else on earth. Embrace those things and make them you.
4. “All I can do is follow my instincts because I’ll never please everyone.”
There are going to be times when people don’t like you. You’re going to have enemies. You’ll try your hardest, treat someone the best you can, and it won’t be enough. It’s important to know that and accept it. It’s impossible to get along with everyone or to please every single person you interact with. Just try your best and stay humble.
5. “I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.”
It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or what they say. In the end, you get to decide the kind of person you are. No one else gets to define you or create you. People can obviously form an opinion on the way you act or present yourself, but at the end of the day, you are who you say you are.
A lot like Hermione Granger, Emma Watson has established herself as smart, brave, loyal, kind, and fierce. She isn’t afraid to say how she feels or doesn’t let anyone define her or change her. Despite years in the spotlight, she has stayed grounded and firm on her beliefs. We could all learn a lesson from the “brightest witch of our age”.
