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The 26 Most Inspiring Quotes from Princess Diana

Princess Diana won the hearts of people around the world with her grace, compassion, and generosity. We remember the Princess of Wales through her most powerful words.

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The People’s Princess—in her own words

Even before Princess Diana’s wedding day, she had won the hearts of people around the world with her grace, compassion, and generosity. Here are 26 of our favorite Princess Diana quotes that speak to all those qualities.

These are some of her most powerful words. They make Princess Diana’s death all the more poignant, but they also reveal her enduring legacy.

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On human dignity

“Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back.”

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On giving back

“Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can.”

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On compassion

“Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.”

RELATED: Secrets About Princess Diana No One Knew Till After Her Death

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On family

“Family is the most important thing in the world.”

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On improving our world

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” These Princess Diana quotes are as stunning as these rarely seen photos of her.

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On love

“If you find someone you love in life, you must hang onto it, and look after it, and if you were lucky enough to find someone who loved you, then you must protect it.”

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On world issues

“I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved.”

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On her purpose

“Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a good and essential part of my life, a kind of destiny.”

RELATEDFacts About Princess Diana You Probably Didn’t Know

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On being a royal

“I’d like to be a queen in people’s hearts, but I don’t see myself being queen of this country.”

RELATED: How Much Is the Princess Diana Beanie Baby Worth?

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On raising her sons

“I want my boys to have an understanding of people’s emotions, their insecurities, people’s distress, and their hopes and dreams.”

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On happiness

“When you are happy, you can forgive a great deal.”

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On her personality

“I am a free spirit. Some don’t like that but that’s who I am.”

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On success

“People think that at the end of the day a man is the only answer. Actually, a fulfilling job is better for me.”

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On leadership

“I don’t go by the rule book. I lead from the heart, not the head.”

RELATED: The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut

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On being a princess

“Being a princess isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.”

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On money

I don’t want expensive gifts; I don’t want to be bought.

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On helping anyone

“Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are.” These Princess Diana quotes are iconic, just like her most famous fashion moments.

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On the monarchy

“It’s vital that the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. It’s what I try and do.”

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On her sons

“I live for my sons. I would be lost without them.”

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On tolerance

“The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance. Everyone is so intolerant of each other.” Find out the secrets you didn’t know about Charles’ and Diana’s wedding.

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On herself

“Call me Diana, not Princess Diana.”

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On being a humanitarian

“I am not a political figure, I am a humanitarian figure, always was, always will be.”

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On hugs

“Hugs can do great amounts of good—especially for children.” 

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On being called an icon

“Don’t call me an icon. I’m just a mother trying to help.”

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On listening to your heart

“Only do what your heart tells you.”

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On action

“I want to do, not just to be.”

RELATED: 30 Photos of Young Princess Diana—Before She Became the People’s Princess

Claire Nowak
Claire is a writer, editor and digital strategist with more than 10 years of experience reporting on facts, trivia and quotes. Her natural curiosity lends itself to stories on history, trivia and "Did you know?" curiosities, and her work has appeared in Taste of Home, The Family Handyman, The Healthy and iHeart Media. A former editor at Reader's Digest and proud Marquette University grad, she lives in Milwaukee with her fiancé and their corgi and enjoys binge-listening to true-crime podcasts.