Kamala Harris' Best Quotes

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Kamala Harris, the second female candidate for president on a major party ticket and the first presidential candidate of South Asian descent, is a powerful public speaker. See some quotes that she’s shared about her vision for the country, as a former Senator, sitting Vice President and now presidential candidate.

01of 17

Kamala Harris Quotes

Shyamala Gopalan (left) and Kamala Harris.Kamala Harris/Facebook

— on her mother’s advice, during an interview withGood Morning America

02of 17Kamala Harris Quotes"Congressman John Lewis, before his passing wrote, ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act.’ And what he meant was that 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."— during hervice presidential victory speech

02of 17

“Congressman John Lewis, before his passing wrote, ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act.’ And what he meant was that 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.”

— during hervice presidential victory speech

03of 17Kamala Harris QuotesSen. Kamala Harris (left) and Sen. David Perdue.Michael A. McCoy/Getty; Shutterstock"Many cultures have naming ceremonies. It is a gift that is an incredible, familial gift. The family gives the child a name and so I come at it from that: not about myself, but for everyone … Respect the names that people are given and use those names with respect."— on Georgia Sen. David Perdue, Fox News' Tucker Carlson and othersmocking mispronunciations of her name

03of 17

Sen. Kamala Harris (left) and Sen. David Perdue.Michael A. McCoy/Getty; Shutterstock

“Many cultures have naming ceremonies. It is a gift that is an incredible, familial gift. The family gives the child a name and so I come at it from that: not about myself, but for everyone … Respect the names that people are given and use those names with respect.”

— on Georgia Sen. David Perdue, Fox News' Tucker Carlson and othersmocking mispronunciations of her name

04of 17Kamala Harris QuotesSelena Gomez and Kamala Harris.Selena Gomez/Instagram"Mental health care, the way I think about it is that we have to understand health care. You can’t just think that the body starts from the neck down. We also need health care for the neck up."—on mental heathin a conversation withSelena Gomez

04of 17

Selena Gomez and Kamala Harris.Selena Gomez/Instagram

“Mental health care, the way I think about it is that we have to understand health care. You can’t just think that the body starts from the neck down. We also need health care for the neck up.”

—on mental heathin a conversation withSelena Gomez

05of 17Kamala Harris QuotesFrom left: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff.Adam Schultz/Biden for President"It’s important to be able to laugh at yourself and each other and we do a healthy amount of that."—to PEOPLEof her relationship with husbandDoug Emhoff

05of 17

From left: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff.Adam Schultz/Biden for President

“It’s important to be able to laugh at yourself and each other and we do a healthy amount of that.”

—to PEOPLEof her relationship with husbandDoug Emhoff

06of 17

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.Mason Trinca/Getty

—on immigrationduring her first 2017 speech on the Senate floor

07of 17

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Presdient-elect Joe Biden photographed for PEOPLE on Aug. 15 outside Wilmington, Delaware.Gioncarlo Valentine

—on Instagram, after being named TIME’s Person of the Year with President-Elect Joe Biden

08of 17Kamala Harris QuotesShyamala Gopalan (left), Donald Harris.Kamala Harris/Facebook"My mother and father, they came from opposite sides of the world to arrive in America: One from India and the other from Jamaica in search of a world-class education. But what brought them together was the civil rights movement of the 1960s. And that’s how they met as students in the streets of Oakland marching and shouting for this thing called justice in a struggle that continues today. And I was part of it. My mother, Shyamala, raised my sister Maya and me to believe it was up to us, and every generation of Americans, to keep on marching."—on her upbringing, during Harris' first joint campaign event with Joe Biden

08of 17

Shyamala Gopalan (left), Donald Harris.Kamala Harris/Facebook

“My mother and father, they came from opposite sides of the world to arrive in America: One from India and the other from Jamaica in search of a world-class education. But what brought them together was the civil rights movement of the 1960s. And that’s how they met as students in the streets of Oakland marching and shouting for this thing called justice in a struggle that continues today. And I was part of it. My mother, Shyamala, raised my sister Maya and me to believe it was up to us, and every generation of Americans, to keep on marching.”

—on her upbringing, during Harris' first joint campaign event with Joe Biden

09of 17Kamala Harris QuotesPaul Sancya/AP/Shutterstock"Anyone who claims to be a leader must speak like a leader. That means speaking with integrity and truth."—on Instagram

09of 17

Paul Sancya/AP/Shutterstock

“Anyone who claims to be a leader must speak like a leader. That means speaking with integrity and truth.”

—on Instagram

10of 17Kamala Harris QuotesGenaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty"Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power. Don’t let anyone take away your power. Now is the time to stand up. Now is the time to speak out. And now is the time to VOTE."—on Instagram

10of 17

Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty

“Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power. Don’t let anyone take away your power. Now is the time to stand up. Now is the time to speak out. And now is the time to VOTE.”

11of 17Kamala Harris QuotesSen. Kamala Harris in 2012, when she was attorney general of California.Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Getty"Optimism is the fuel driving every fight I’ve been in."— during an interview withElle

11of 17

Sen. Kamala Harris in 2012, when she was attorney general of California.Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Getty

“Optimism is the fuel driving every fight I’ve been in.”

— during an interview withElle

12of 17Kamala Harris QuotesManuel Balce Ceneta/AP/Shutterstock"It will take each of us to confront the injustices that continue to perpetuate a broken system that has taken countless Black Americans' lives. It will take people of every race, creed, and gender identity to speak up and to act. Now is the time to have those uncomfortable conversations about racism with family, friends, and neighbors. It’s time to have honest discussions about our country’s dark history of discrimination and confront the fact that structural racism lives on in our policies and everyday life. And it’s time for all of us — not just some — to speak out against racism."—Harris on confronting racism in an essay forCosmopolitan

12of 17

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/Shutterstock

“It will take each of us to confront the injustices that continue to perpetuate a broken system that has taken countless Black Americans' lives. It will take people of every race, creed, and gender identity to speak up and to act. Now is the time to have those uncomfortable conversations about racism with family, friends, and neighbors. It’s time to have honest discussions about our country’s dark history of discrimination and confront the fact that structural racism lives on in our policies and everyday life. And it’s time for all of us — not just some — to speak out against racism.”

—Harris on confronting racism in an essay forCosmopolitan

13of 17Kamala Harris Quotes"When I look at young girls and boys, and they look at me, they see themselves, and what they can be. That’s the weight that I carry, and the joy of the weight."— on Instagram

13of 17

“When I look at young girls and boys, and they look at me, they see themselves, and what they can be. That’s the weight that I carry, and the joy of the weight.”

— on Instagram

14of 17Kamala Harris QuotesSen. Kamala Harris.Paras Griffin/Getty"We can’t let up the fight to address maternal mortality in America — especially right now. When we address both the systematic disparities and implicit bias in both our society and our health care system, we can get to the point where being Black and pregnant is full of joy and free from fear of preventable death."—on the ongoing crisis of Black maternal mortality in an essay forEssence

14of 17

Sen. Kamala Harris.Paras Griffin/Getty

“We can’t let up the fight to address maternal mortality in America — especially right now. When we address both the systematic disparities and implicit bias in both our society and our health care system, we can get to the point where being Black and pregnant is full of joy and free from fear of preventable death.”

—on the ongoing crisis of Black maternal mortality in an essay forEssence

15of 17Kamala Harris QuotesBria Goeller and @Goodtrubble"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."—on advice to young women, in an interview withMarie Claire

15of 17

Bria Goeller and @Goodtrubble

“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.”

—on advice to young women, in an interview withMarie Claire

16of 17Kamala Harris Quotes"Family means everything to me. I’ve had many titles throughout my career, but ‘Momala’ will always be the one that means the most to me."— on being mom to stepchildren Cole and Ella Emhoff

16of 17

“Family means everything to me. I’ve had many titles throughout my career, but ‘Momala’ will always be the one that means the most to me.”

— on being mom to stepchildren Cole and Ella Emhoff

17of 17

Jim Vondruska/Getty

And those who came before us — the patriots at Normandy and Selma, Seneca Falls and Stonewall, on farmlands and factory floors — they did not struggle, sacrifice, and lay down their lives only to see us cede our fundamental freedoms. …

The United States of America is the greatest idea humanity ever devised — a nation big enough to encompass all our dreams, strong enough to withstand any fracture or fissure between us, and fearless enough to imagine a future of possibilities."

— at a campaign event at the Ellipse in Washington D.C.

source: people.com