Women don't realize how powerful they are.

Hear the timeless words of Judith Light, who declared with clarity and conviction: “Women don’t realize how powerful they are.” This is no mere compliment, but a summons. It is a reminder that the strength of women has too often been hidden beneath layers of expectation, diminished by the voices of others, or forgotten amidst the noise of the world. Yet the power remains, vast as the sea, waiting to be claimed. The tragedy is not that women lack power, but that they do not always see it within themselves.

The origin of this saying lies in Light’s long career as an actress and advocate, where she witnessed both the struggles and triumphs of women. She spoke as one who had lived in industries that often reduced women to images, yet she recognized that beyond the surface, women possess resilience, insight, empathy, and courage. These qualities, though sometimes overlooked, are forms of power more enduring than brute strength: the power to inspire, to influence, to create, and to transform.

History itself provides countless testimonies of women who discovered their power and changed the course of nations. Consider Harriet Tubman, once enslaved, who not only freed herself but returned again and again to rescue others, leading them along the Underground Railroad to liberty. She wielded no crown, commanded no army, yet her courage reshaped the destiny of her people. At first, she may not have known the full measure of her power—but in rising to the demands of her time, she revealed it for all to see.

The meaning of Light’s words is also deeply psychological. For centuries, society has told women to be quiet, modest, and small. Generations have been taught that their value lies in pleasing others rather than commanding their own lives. Such teachings veil the truth, causing women to doubt their strength or to underestimate their voice. Yet when that veil is lifted, when a woman begins to realize her power, the world itself trembles. For there is no force greater than a spirit awakened to its own potential.

But let us not imagine this power as something selfish or domineering. It is not merely the ability to control others, but the deeper gift to inspire, to heal, to lead, to endure, and to create life and beauty. It is the power that builds communities, raises nations, and preserves humanity in its darkest hours. The power of women has always been present; it is only recognition that has been delayed. Light’s words are both encouragement and warning: encouragement that women must embrace their gifts, and warning that the world suffers when they do not.

The lesson is clear: every woman must learn to recognize and claim her strength. Do not wait for permission from the world. Do not believe the lies that tell you to shrink. Look to the examples of those who came before—leaders, mothers, artists, rebels—and see that your own gifts are cut from the same cloth. To realize your power is not arrogance; it is fidelity to the truth of who you are.

Practically, this means daring to speak when silence is easier, daring to lead when fear whispers otherwise, daring to trust your intuition and your voice. It means supporting other women in their journey to discover their power, for strength multiplies when shared. And it means remembering that every act of courage, however small, strengthens not only you, but all who witness it.

So let Judith Light’s words be carried forward: “Women don’t realize how powerful they are.” Let this be not a lament but a prophecy—that more and more women will rise to see their own strength, and in so doing, transform the world. For when women recognize their power, civilizations rise, generations heal, and humanity itself is lifted into its greater destiny.