Those are some of the invaluable insights penned by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan in his letter to his two granddaughters, Aaradhya Bachchan and Navya Naveli Nanda.
Video of the 73-year-old megastar reading the letter went viral on Facebook due to its heartfelt message which emphasised women's rights and empowerment.
Netizens, especially from India, lauded the letter, deeming it as timely as violence against women and gender inequality were still widespread in the country.
In the letter, Amitabh also asked his granddaughters to make their own choices and not let anyone else dictate their lives.
Below is the full letter as published in The Times of India:
"You both carry a very valuable legacy on your tender shoulders – Aaradhya, the legacy of your pardadaji, Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and Navya, the legacy of your pardadaji, Shri H P Nanda.
"Both your pardadaji's gave your present surnames celebrated fame, dignity and recognition. Both of you may be a Nanda or a Bachchan, but you are also girls. Women!
"And because you are women people will force their thinking, their boundaries on you.
"They will tell you how to dress, how to behave, who you can meet and where you can go.
"Don't live in the shadows of people's judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom.
"Don't let anyone make you believe that the length of your skirt is a measure of your character.
"Don't let anyone's opinion of who you should be friends with, dictate who you will be friends with.
"Don't get married for any other reason other than you want to get married.
"People will talk. They shall say some terrible things. But that doesn't mean you have to listen to everyone. Never ever worry about – log kya kahenge.
"At the end of the day, you are the only one who will face the consequences of your actions, so don't let
other people make your decisions for you.
"Navya – the privilege your name, your surname offers you, will not protect you from the difficulties you will face because you're a woman.
"Aaradhya – by the time you see and understand this, I may well not be around. But I think what I am saying today shall still be relevant.
"This may be a difficult, difficult world to be a woman. But I believe that it is women like you that will change that. It may not be easy, setting your own boundaries, making your own choices, rising above people's judgement.
"But you, you can set an example for women everywhere.
"Do this and you would have done more than I have ever done, and it will be my honour to be known not as Amitabh Bachchan, but as your grandfather!"
