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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes

Powerful Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Daily Growth

About Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) was an iconic American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish immigrant parents, Ginsburg's early life laid a foundation for her lifelong commitment to justice and equality. Ginsburg graduated at the top of her class at Cornell University and later at Columbia Law School, where she was one of only nine women in a class of hundreds. Despite facing discrimination, she excelled academically and became an advocate for gender equality long before it was popular. In the 1970s, Ginsburg co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she argued six gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the ACLU. Her work helped establish a legal framework for women's rights in America. In 1980, Ginsburg was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Jimmy Carter. Eleven years later, she was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton, becoming the second woman ever to serve on the court. Ginsburg became known for her powerful dissents, including her iconic "Notorious RBG" one in 2013, when the court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. Her tenacity and unwavering commitment to justice made her an international symbol of women's rights and gender equality. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and work have left a lasting impact on American law and society. Her courage, intelligence, and determination serve as an inspiration for generations to come.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

This quote encourages advocacy with inclusivity and persuasion. It suggests that when one is passionate about an issue, they should engage in a struggle, but not in a way that alienates potential allies. Instead, the focus should be on inspiring others to join the cause by demonstrating the importance and validity of the fight, thereby amplifying its impact collectively.

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time."

This quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg emphasizes the importance of persistence and incremental progress in effecting meaningful and lasting change. It suggests that significant societal shifts do not occur overnight or through grand gestures alone, but rather through consistent, steady advancements over time. The wisdom lies in recognizing that even small steps can lead to substantial change when consistently taken, encouraging patience, resilience, and determination in the pursuit of a more equitable society.

"Dissing the dissent: I would prefer not to."

This quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg emphasizes her respect for differing viewpoints, especially in the context of a Supreme Court Justice's role in writing dissents. Rather than "dissing" or belittling the opinions of others, she prefers to focus on constructively expressing her own views in a dignified manner, even when they contrast with the majority decision. This approach underscores RBG's commitment to maintaining the integrity and decorum of the court while upholding her personal beliefs.

"I am not entitled to have my views prevail simply because I'm the older person or because I've been a judge longer than other people on the bench."

This quote reflects Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's belief in the importance of upholding impartiality, fairness, and respect for diverse perspectives within the judicial system. She acknowledges that her position as a senior judge does not automatically grant her authority over others, nor should it influence the outcomes of court decisions. Instead, all judges should approach each case with an open mind, considering the merits of each argument equally, regardless of their personal beliefs or tenure on the bench. This perspective underscores the essential values that help maintain the integrity and credibility of the judicial system.

"Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."

This quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg underscores her belief in a balanced, shared responsibility for child-rearing as a key factor in achieving gender equality. By suggesting that men should participate equally in raising children, she is advocating for a societal shift where both genders share the domestic duties and responsibilities traditionally assigned to women. This mutual participation in nurturing the next generation would allow individuals of all genders equal opportunities to pursue personal and professional growth, ultimately leading to true gender equality.

America is known as a country that welcomes people to its shores. All kinds of people. The image of the Statue of Liberty with Emma Lazarus' famous poem. She lifts her lamp and welcomes people to the golden shore, where they will not experience prejudice because of the color of their skin, the religious faith that they follow.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Color, Country, Religious, Famous

If you want to influence people, you want them to accept your suggestions, you don't say, 'You don't know how to use the English language,' or 'How could you make that argument?' It will be welcomed much more if you have a gentle touch than if you are aggressive.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Language, Use, Your, Argument

The entering class I joined in 1956 included just nine women, up from five in the then second-year class, and only one African American. All professors, in those now-ancient days, were of the same race and sex.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

American, Same, Nine, African American

You can disagree without being disagreeable.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

You, Disagree, Being, Disagreeable

We still have many neighborhoods that are racially identified. We still have many schools that even though the days of state-enforced segregation are gone, segregation because of geographical boundaries remains.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Neighborhoods, Still, Though, Geographical

I was the first tenured woman at Columbia. That was 1972; every law school was looking for its woman. Why? Because Stan Pottinger, who was then head of the office for civil rights of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, was enforcing the Nixon government contract program.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Education, Woman, Nixon, Contract

The state controlling a woman would mean denying her full autonomy and full equality.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Woman, Her, Would, Autonomy

I'm a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Strong, Listening, Very, Believer

All respect for the office of the presidency aside, I assumed that the obvious and unadulterated decline of freedom and constitutional sovereignty, not to mention the efforts to curb the power of judicial review, spoke for itself.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Spoke, Constitutional, Judicial

A judge sworn to decide impartially can offer no forecasts, no hints, for that would show not only disregard for the specifics of the particular case, it would display disdain for the entire judicial process.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Process, Hints, Disregard, Judicial

I think daughters can change the perception of their fathers.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Think, I Think, Fathers, Daughters

My resume showed membership on both the Harvard and Columbia Law Reviews, a credit impressive abroad where it was not generally known that Law Reviews were student-operated publications.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Law, Resume, Abroad, Reviews

Remember that before 'Roe v. Wade' was decided, there were four states that allowed abortion in the first trimester if that's what the woman sought: New York, Hawaii, California, Alaska. Other states were shifting. And people were fighting over this issue in state legislatures.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Woman, Abortion, Other, York

Frankly, I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Thought, Want, Particularly, Population Growth

The label 'liberal' or 'conservative,' any - every time I hear that, I think of the great Gilbert and Sullivan song from 'Iolanthe.' It goes, 'Every gal and every boy that's born alive is either a little liberal or else a little conservative.' What do those labels mean? It depends on whose ox is being gored.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Conservative, Alive, I Think, Gal

Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Work, Away, Like, Umbrella

My law school class in the late 1950s numbered over 500. That class included less than 10 women.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Law, Over, Less, Numbered

I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Constitution, Would, Were, Drafting

I do a variety of weight-lifting, elliptical glider, stretching exercises, push-ups. And I do the Canadian Air Force exercises almost every day.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Almost, Almost Every Day, Air Force

I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They cannot guide me reliably in making decisions about particular individuals.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Making, About, Reliably, Suspicious

The concern was that if a woman was doing gender equality, her chances of making it to tenure in the law school were diminished. It was considered frivolous.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Woman, Doing, Making, Frivolous

At Columbia Law School, my professor of constitutional law and federal courts, Gerald Gunther, was determined to place me in a federal court clerkship, despite what was then viewed as a grave impediment: On graduation, I was the mother of a 4-year-old child.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Constitutional, Impediment, Columbia

It is not women's liberation, it is women's and men's liberation.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Women, Men, Liberation

I was a super once - an extra - in 'Die Fledermaus,' and was seated within three feet of Placido Domingo. I had never heard a voice of that beauty so close up. It felt as if an electric shock were running through me.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Voice, Die, Through, Seated

I certainly respect the belief of the Hobby Lobby owners. On the other hand, they have no constitutional right to foist that belief on the hundreds and hundreds of women who work for them who don't share that belief.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Work, Other, Certainly, Hobby

I think unconscious bias is one of the hardest things to get at.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Think, Unconscious, I Think, Bias

The notion that it is improper to look beyond the borders of the United States in grappling with hard questions has a certain kinship to the view that the U.S. Constitution is a document essentially frozen in time as of the date of its ratification.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Date, Borders, United States, Kinship

People who have been hardworking, tax paying, those people ought to be given an opportunity to be on a track that leads towards citizenship, and if that happened, then they wouldn't be prey to the employers who say, 'We want you because we know that you work for a salary we could not lawfully pay anyone else.'

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Salary, Prey, Been, Hardworking

One aspect of appellate judging is we have to give reasons for all of our decisions. And when you sit down and try to write it out, sometimes you find that your first judgment wasn't the right one.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Reasons, Your, One Aspect, Decisions

A gender line... helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Gender, Cage, Pedestal, Helps

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