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Quote by Sonia Sotomayor

“The first case I sat on... was Citizens United. Talk about being thrown in. Needless to say, if I was scared before, I was terrified.”

Quote by Sonia Sotomayor

Author

Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the first Hispanic woman to serve in this role. Born on June 25, 1954, she has a background that includes a challenging upbringing in the South Bronx, New York, which fueled her passion for law. Sotomayor graduated from Princeton University and Yale Law School, and her career has been characterized by a strong commitment to public service and civil rights. She has served as a federal judge and has been a vocal advocate for equality and justice, leaving a lasting impact on a variety of legal issues. more

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“When you come from a background like mine, where you're entering worlds that are so different than your own, you have to be afraid.”

World Different Mines Backgrounds Entering

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“You can't be a minority in this society without having someone express disapproval about affirmative action.”

Action Minorities Affirmative Action This Society Affirmative Disapproval

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“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.”

People Ifs Firsts Use Would Be Realizing Justice Roles Inspire Decided Court I Realized Supreme If I Could Supreme Court Unreal Olympus Supreme Court Justice Court Justice

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“Sometimes, idealistic people are put off the whole business of networking as something tainted by flattery and the pursuit of selfish advantage. But virtue in obscurity is rewarded only in Heaven. To succeed in this world you have to be known to people.”

People World Sometimes Whole Heaven Known Virtue This World Succeed Advantage Selfish Pursuit Flattery Networking Obscurity Idealistic Tainted

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“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.”

Ends Felt Childhood Truth Is Adults My Family Independence Existential Survived Unreliable

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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.”

Different Home School Speak Language Parent Community Growing Up Growing Shame Treasure Being Different Classmates Specialness

Author:Sonia Sotomayor

“Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences...our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.”

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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.”

Values Appreciate Value Of Life Stepping Back

Author:Sonia Sotomayor

“No matter how liberal I am, I'm still outraged by crimes of violence. Regardless of whether I can sympathize with the causes that lead these individuals to do these crimes, the effects are outrageous.”

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“So many people grew up with challenges, as I did. There weren't always happy things happening to me or around me. But when you look at the core of goodness within yourself - at the optimism and hope - you realize it comes from the environment you grew up in.”

People Looks Realizing Challenges Environment Grew Goodness Grew Up Happenings Optimism Core Always Happy Happy Things Optimism And Hope

Author:Sonia Sotomayor