The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn’t have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end I depended on myself.
SONIA SOTOMAYORAn alcoholic father, poverty, my own juvenile diabetes, the limited English my parents spoke – although my mother has become completely bilingual since. All these things intrude on what most people think of as happiness.
More Sonia Sotomayor Quotes
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I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.
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You can’t dream unless you know what the possibilities are.
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I savor life. When you have anything that threatens life it prods you into stepping back and really appreciating the value of life and taking from it what you can.
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The President Barack Obama had suggested that I not watch the news during the confirmation process. I assiduously followed his advice.
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Pretending to be a princess is fun, but it is definitely not a career.
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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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I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge regardless of their background or life experiences.
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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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We have to look and ensure that we’re paying attention to what we’re doing, so that we don’t reflexively institute processes and procedures that exclude people without thought.
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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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Diabetes taught me discipline.
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In every position that I’ve been in, there have been naysayers who don’t believe I’m qualified or who don’t believe I can do the work. And I feel a special responsibility to prove them wrong.
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To me, lawyering is the height of service – and being involved in this profession is a gift.
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My judicial philosophy is fidelity to the law.
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I do know one thing about me: I don’t measure myself by others’ expectations or let others define my worth.
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