50 Self-Defense Quotes About the Art of Defending Yourself

By Stephanie Kirby

Writer, Entrepreneur and Inspirational quote curator

Published August 7, 2023

If you are interested in self-defense, then check out these Self-Defense quotes!

Self-Defense is the art and ability to defend oneself from attack to prevent being harmed.

Having Self-Defense skills is beneficial in the following ways:

Builds self-confidence – hopefully, you will not have to use your skills, but simply having them builds confidence that you can handle situations if they arise.
Builds self-discipline – as with any discipline, self-defense takes consistent, dedicated effort to become proficient.
Improves Health – the physical nature of self-defense training builds muscle and releases stress.
Allows you to protect yourself and loved ones – if you are ever in a dangerous situation, you will want to be able to protect your loved ones.
Build a community – as with anything you are involved in, taking self-defense classes allows you to meet other people interested in the same things.

Take a few minutes to read these Self-Defense quotes to learn more about the art of self-defense.

Best Self-Defense Quotes

Enjoy some of the best quotes about self-defense.

1. “I read in self-defense.” — Woody Allen

2. “I only direct in self-defense.” — Mel Brooks

3. “How you train is how it will come out.” — David James

4. “Your mindset is your primary weapon.” — Jeff Cooper

5. “The right of self-defense never ceases.” — James Monroe

6. “Great results can be achieved with small forces.” — Sun Tzu

7. “I have a self-defense mind. I’ve had it all my life.” — Conor McGregor

8. “Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.” — Sun Tzu

9. “Defense involves three things: courage, energy, intelligence.” — Don Meyer

10. “‘Does anyone teach girls of the inn to protect themselves?’” — Kristin Cashore

Self-Defense Quotes For Women

Women are more vulnerable to being abducted, so learning self-defense is extra important.

11. “A woman who carries a knife is ready for trouble.” — Patrick Rothfuss

12. “I think it’s [self-defense] a really important thing – especially for women.” — Milla Jovovich

13. “Women’s aggression isn’t considered real. It isn’t dangerous; it’s only cute.” — Katherine Dunn

14. “The world is a scary place. Even my mother has suggested I take a self-defense class.” — Iliza Shlesinger

15. “Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

16. “Beautiful girls should know how to defend themselves against the advances of gentlemen.” — Cassandra Clare

17. “I am alarmed that dozens of women out to search for food for their families were abducted in broad daylight.” — Volker Turk

18. “Our nation was built and civilized by men and women who used guns in self-defense and in pursuit of peace.” — Ronald Reagan

19. “Learning self-defense skills benefits women in ways that extend beyond discovering how to protect themselves.” — Joel Schwarz

20. “When I was carjacked, they pulled me out of the car and tried pushing me to the back, and that’s when I knew I was being kidnapped. I punched the guy in the throat, and it gave me enough space to run away.” — Demi-Leigh Tebow

Motivational Self-Defense Quotes

As you read these quotes and sayings about self-defense, allow them to motivate you.

21. “Self-defense is not only our right; it is our duty.” — Ronald Reagan

22. “Tomorrow’s battle is won during today’s practice.” — Samurai Maxim

23. “Protecting yourself is self-defense. Protecting others is warriorship.” — Bodhi Sanders

24. “The purpose of education is to teach a defense against eloquence.” — Bertrand Russell

25. “Self-defense is so important to know in today’s society. It’s not just that you might get mugged.” — Milla Jovovich

26. “Self-defense, self-confidence, discipline, and self-control. The values you learn are priceless.” — Rickson Gracie

27. “The criminal does not expect his prey to fight back. May he never choose you, but if he does, surprise him.” — Jeff Cooper

28. “Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending.” — Rorion Gracie

29. “Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac.” — George Orwell

30. “I am never proud to participate in violence, yet, I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves, that we can be ready and able to come to our own defense when and wherever needed.” — Maya Angelou

Self-Defense Quotes to Inspire You

Check out these inspirational quotes about defending yourself.

31. “Everybody’s got a plan until they get smacked in the face.” — Mike Tyson

32. “There isn’t any real good reason for fighting except self-defense.” — S.E. Hinton

33. “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” — Bruce Lee

34. “The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

35. “To be prepared for war is the most effective means of maintaining peace.” — George Washington

36. “Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.” — Benjamin Franklin

37. “It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not almost certainly will suffer for it.” — Jeff Cooper

38. “[Self-defense is] justly called the primary law of nature, so it is not, neither can it be in fact, taken away by the laws of society.” — William Blackstone

39. “It is high time for society to stop worrying about the criminal and to let the criminal start worrying about society. And by ‘society,’ I mean you.” — Jeff Cooper

40. “For the longest time, my older brother told me he was teaching me self-defense, but now that I’m grown up, I realize he was just practicing his martial arts on me.” — Olga Fonda

More Self-Defense Quotes

Here are some more inspiring quotes about self-defense.

41. “The first right of every human being is the right of self-defense.” — Larry Craig

42. “The only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.” — John Locke

43. “In training self-defense, there’s no cost….it’s an investment.” — Coach Michael Joyce

44. “The essential thing is to bear always in mind that trouble can appear at any time.” — Jeff Cooper

45. “You do not have the right to take another human’s life unless it’s in strict self-defense.” — Michael Moore

46. “‘How can you protect yourself by carrying a sword if you don’t know how to use it?’” — Terry Pratchett

47. “Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one.” — Gloria Steinem

48. “My father was the first person to introduce me to self-defense and martial arts, which I’ve been doing all my life now.” — Joe R. Lansdale

49. “The principle of self-defense, even involving weapons and bloodshed, has never been condemned, even by Gandhi.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

50. “There’s only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.” — Bruce Lee