Bella Abzug Quotes

We are affirming human rights for all women and girls, acknowledging the full range of diversity that exists, and detailing actions to prevent violence.

- Bella Abzug

I spend all day figuring out how to beat the machine and knock the crap out of the political power structure.

- Bella Abzug

I prefer the word 'homemaker' because 'housewife' always implies that there may be a wife someplace else.

- Bella Abzug

Our struggle was political, ideological and economic, and we felt we couldn't make something of ourselves unless we bettered society. We saw the two together.

- Bella Abzug

Our struggle today is not to have a female Einstein get appointed as an assistant professor. It is for a woman schlemiel to get as quickly promoted as a male schlemiel.

- Bella Abzug

When I first became a lawyer, only 2% of the bar was women. People would always think I was a secretary. In those days, professional women in the business world wore hats. So I started wearing hats.

- Bella Abzug

I began wearing hats as a young lawyer because it helped me to establish my professional identity. Before that, whenever I was at a meeting, someone would ask me to get coffee.

- Bella Abzug

The establishment is made up of little men, very frightened.

- Bella Abzug

We are bringing women into politics to change the nature of politics, to change the vision, to change the institutions. Women are not wedded to the policies of the past. We didn't craft them. They didn't let us.

- Bella Abzug

Imperfect though it may be, the Beijing Platform for Action is the strongest statement of consensus on women's equality, empowerment and justice ever produced by governments.

- Bella Abzug

A woman's place is in the house - the House of Representatives.

- Bella Abzug

As women, we know that we must always find ways to change the process because the present institutions want to hold on to power and keep the status quo.

- Bella Abzug

I am not a centrist.

- Bella Abzug

Working women wore hats. It was the only way they would take you seriously.

- Bella Abzug

All of the men on my staff can type.

- Bella Abzug

We are coming down from our pedestal and up from the laundry room.

- Bella Abzug

The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes.

- Bella Abzug

I'm a politician. I run for office. That's my profession.

- Bella Abzug