Quote of the day by Gloria Gaynor: 'Self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not...' - Life lesson from the Queen of Disco who turned 83

Gloria Gaynor, the Queen of the Discos, has turned 83 on September 7. Hence today our quote of the day is from the singer itself who once gave iconic songs like “Never Can Say Goodbye” (1974), “Let Me Know (I Have a Right)” (1979), “I Am What I Am” (1983), and “I Will Survive” (1978).

In a world where opinions, comments and reactions from other people can sometimes feel like a measure of our worth, Gloria Gaynor's words offer a simple reminder: the most important opinion you have about yourself is your own.

The singer, best known for her enduring disco anthem I Will Survive, has been widely credited with saying: “Well, we all know that self-esteem comes from what you think of you, not what other people think of you.” The quote is listed under Gaynor's name by quote databases including BrainyQuote.


While the exact original source of the statement is difficult to establish, its message fits closely with a theme that has appeared throughout Gaynor's public life: resilience, self-belief and finding strength from within.

What does Gloria Gaynor's quote mean?

At its heart, the quote is about self-esteem — the way we value and perceive ourselves.

It is easy to let external opinions influence how we feel. A compliment can make us feel confident, while criticism can make us question ourselves. Social media can intensify that effect, turning likes, comments and reactions into seemingly instant judgments about our appearance, achievements or choices.

Gaynor's point is that self-esteem cannot be built entirely on that foundation.

If your confidence depends on other people's approval, it can disappear whenever their opinions change. But when your sense of worth comes from how you see yourself, outside criticism has less power over you.

That does not mean ignoring feedback or refusing to acknowledge mistakes. Instead, it means separating who you are from what somebody else thinks about you.

The idea is particularly striking coming from Gaynor, whose career itself became closely associated with overcoming adversity.

Who is Gloria Gaynor?

Gloria Gaynor is an American singer who became one of the defining voices of the disco era. Born on September 7, 1949, she began her recording career before achieving international fame in the 1970s.

Her breakthrough came with songs including Never Can Say Goodbye, which became an important early disco hit. But her career changed forever with I Will Survive.

Released in 1978, the song initially appeared as the B-side of a single. Gaynor later recalled that she immediately recognized the strength of its lyrics and believed the song deserved more attention. After DJs began playing it in New York clubs, audiences responded strongly, and the track eventually became a global hit.

The song's message of surviving heartbreak and emerging stronger became inseparable from Gaynor's own public image.

In 1980, I Will Survive won the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording. It was the only winner in that category before the category was discontinued. The recording was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.

But Gaynor's career did not end with the disco era. She continued recording and performing, eventually exploring gospel and Christian music. Her 2019 album Testimony won the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2020, giving her a second Grammy four decades after I Will Survive first brought her the award.

Why the quote still resonates

There is an interesting connection between Gaynor's famous song and this quote.

I Will Survive is ultimately about reclaiming strength after being hurt. The self-esteem quote makes a similar argument from another direction: your sense of worth should not be handed over to someone else.

People may approve or disapprove. They may praise you one day and criticize you the next. Their opinions can change with circumstances.

But self-esteem becomes more stable when it comes from knowing your own value.

That may be why Gaynor's words continue to resonate decades into her career. The message is not about proving yourself to everyone else. It is about developing enough confidence in yourself that you no longer need everyone else to validate who you are.