I realized that people had an unreal image of me, that somehow I was a god on Mount Olympus. I decided that if I were going to make use of my role as a Supreme Court Justice, it would be to inspire people to realize that, first, I was just like them and second, if I could do it, so could they.
SONIA SOTOMAYORI have come to believe that in order to thrive, a child must have at least one adult in her life who shows her unconditional love, respect, and confidence.
More Sonia Sotomayor Quotes
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A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.
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You know, failure hurts. Any kind of failure stings. If you live in the sting, you will – undoubtedly – fail. My way of getting past the sting is to say no, I’m just not going to let this get me down.
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Success is its own reward, but failure is a great teacher too, and not to be feared.
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I strive never to forget the real world consequences of my decisions on individuals, businesses and government.
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I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences. Today is one of those experiences.
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I’ve spent my whole life learning how to do things that were hard for me.
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Without question, so many people, throughout my life, never think of Puerto Rico as part of the United States. Many people have no idea what the relationship is between Puerto Rico and the United States. And certainly, I have been asked if we are citizens.
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If the system is broken, my inclination is to fix it rather than to fight it. I have faith in the process of the law, and if it is carried out fairly, I can live with the results, whatever they may be.
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My judicial philosophy is fidelity to the law.
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When everyone at school is speaking one language, and a lot of your classmates’ parents also speak it, and you go home and see that your community is different -there is a sense of shame attached to that. It really takes growing up to treasure the specialness of being different.
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Don’t be shy about making a teacher of any willing party who knows what he or she is doing.
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Although I grew up in very modest and challenging circumstances, I consider my life to be immeasurably rich.
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I came to accept during my freshman year that many of the gaps in my knowledge and understanding were simply limits of class and cultural background, not lack of aptitude or application as I’d feared.
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Every lawyer, no matter whom they represent, is trying to help someone, whether it’s a person, a corporation, a government entity, or a small or big business. To me, lawyering is the height of service – and being involved in this profession is a gift.
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There are uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested. Whether it’s serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.
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