I've always said that at the end of the day, on a legal issue, I think a wise old woman and a wise old man are going to reach the same conclusion.
Sandra Day O'ConnorRead
If I stumbled badly in doing the job, I think it would have made life more difficult for women, and that was a great concern of mine and still is.
Interpretation
The speaker expresses concern that their failure could negatively impact women in the workforce.
Sandra Day O'Connor reflects on her role as a female leader and the importance of her performance. She acknowledges that any mistakes she made could have repercussions not just for herself, but for women as a whole, highlighting her awareness of the broader implications of her actions in a historically male-dominated environment.
In practice
In a speech about women in positions of power, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of their success.
I've always said that at the end of the day, on a legal issue, I think a wise old woman and a wise old man are going to reach the same conclusion.
In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.
In my work a good library is essential. It enables me to learn the background and previous discussions of the various issues I am called upon to decide. It provides the stability and continuity for the rule of law.
The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins and very seldom use the spurs. So it was with our chief [William Rehnquist]. He guided us with loose reins and used the spurs only rarely to get us up to speed with our work.
It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.
It was better for me when I was joined at the court by a second woman. When I was there alone, there was too much media focus on the one woman, and the minute we got another woman, that changed.
Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.
The second rule is: Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear, and retreat.
We focus on two things when hiring. First, find the best people you can in the world. And second, let them do their work. Just get out of their way.
My idea of management is that what your job is as the boss is to find really good people and empower them and leave them alone.
It's time for male leaders to not only ask for binders of qualified women, but to re-write the definition of 'qualified.' The best man for the job, may in fact, be a woman, whose biography is not traditional, but is rich with experiences and skills that are not necessarily learned either in school or on the job.
If we knew how often the obedience of others is affected by our own, and how often our stepping forth soon brings forth a whole platton of helpers, and how often our speaking forth soon creates a chorus - we would be even more ashamed of our slackess and our silence.
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