“Young women today often have very little appreciation for the real battles that took place to get women where they are today in this country. I don't know how much history young women today know about those battles.”
History
“Statutes authorizing unreasonable searches were the core concern of the framers of the 4th Amendment.”
HistoryAll Quotes by Sandra Day O'Connor
“Despite the encouraging and wonderful gains and the changes for women which have occurred in my lifetime, there is still room to advance and to promote correction of the remaining deficiencies and imbalances.”
Women“It matters enormously to a successful democratic society like ours that we have three branches of government, each with some independence and some control over the other two. That's set out in the Constitution.”
Government“We pay a price when we deprive children of the exposure to the values, principles, and education they need to make them good citizens.”
Education“Yes, I will bring the understanding of a woman to the Court, but I doubt that alone will affect my decisions.”
Alone“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads form one to another that creates something.”
Alone“We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.”
Government“Parents should continue to become more involved with their communities, and more involved in their children's education.”
Education“The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”
Power“A state of war is not a blank check... when it comes to the rights of the Nation's citizens.”
War“The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work.”
Education“Each of us brings to our job, whatever it is, our lifetime of experience and our values.”
Experience“Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement and remuneration based on ability.”
Respect“Having family responsibilities and concerns just has to make you a more understanding person.”
Family“It is a measure of the framers' fear that a passing majority might find it expedient to compromise 4th Amendment values that these values were embodied in the Constitution itself.”
Fear“It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.”
Politics“Half the states have stopped making civics and government a requirement for high school. Half.”
Government“The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with more destructive intimidation and sanctions.”
Freedom“My hope is that 10 years from now, after I've been across the street at work for a while, they'll all be glad they gave me that wonderful vote.”
Hope“You have citizens who don't understand how government works and they're kind of soured on it. All they do is criticize. They have no idea that they can make things happen.”
Government