20 Powerful and Inspirational Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a U.S. Supreme Court justice. In fact, in 1993, appointed by President Bill Clinton, she became the second woman ever to serve on the Court.

Ginsburg spent her childhood years in a low-income neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother didn’t attend college, but she made sure that her daughter understands the value of education and independence.

The future justice got her bachelor's degree at Cornell University, finishing first in her class, then served as editor of the Columbia Law Review. Despite her extraordinary academic achievements, Ruth struggled with a very male-dominated, hostile environment.

As a tireless champion of justice, she designed a strategy that was meant to fight not only for women’s rights, but also for men who had been denied legal advantages designated for women. Therefore, she strongly believed in gender equality.

For years, she was suggested to retire as she was suffering from various and serious conditions such as colon and pancreatic cancer. Despite these setbacks, Ginsburg continued to fight for her life and for justice until 2020 when she passed away.

Here Are 20 Powerful Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes

Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes about women

Ruth has been one of the fiercest advocates for women’s rights and equality. Daring and straightforward, ‘the great dissenter’ has become a progressive and feminist hero.

In 1972, she co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). One year later she became the Project’s general counsel and conducted work that ended gender discrimination in many law areas.

When the #MeToo movement began to raise awareness among women who had been sexually abused or harassed, Ginsburg joined in and told a story from the time she had to endure the advances of a Cornell University professor.

Below you’ll find some of the most inspiring and powerful quotes about women, from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Women's rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda, trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy.

A gender line... helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.

Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.

I have had the great good fortune to share life with a partner truly extraordinary for his generation, a man who believed at age 18 when we met, and who believes today, that a woman's work, whether at home or on the job, is as important as a man's.

My idea of how choice should have developed was not a privacy notion, not a doctor’s right notion, but a woman’s right to control her own destiny, to be able to make choices without a Big Brother state telling her what she can and cannot do.

Famous Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes

It’s hard to overlook a woman with such a strong character and work ethic. Ginsburg continued to attend work throughout her chemotherapy sessions. She didn’t allow her illness nor others to decide her next move.

As serious as she was about everything she got involved into, Ruth also had a very good sense of humor. She proved that by approaching critical issues with humor and when she embraced the nickname ‘Notorious RBG’, stating that she and the famous rapper Notorious BIG had something in common -- they were both born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.

Over the years, Ginsburg has delivered plenty of wisdom both inside and outside the courtroom. Below, you’ll find some of her most famous quotes.

Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.

When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.

Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

You can't have it all, all at once.

I'm a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.

To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you, that's what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself but for one's community.

You can disagree without being disagreeable.

Inspirational Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes

Words have the power to inspire, encourage and motivate people, and that’s exactly what U.S. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg did throughout her career. She represents a powerful example of an unapologetic woman who lived for her beliefs.

She didn’t let others intimidate her. She was never afraid to voice her passion for equality or make progressive statements, regardless of how controversial the subject seemed to be at the time. From her endless fight for women’s rights to showing everyone what it takes to have a successful career, Ginsburg remains an inspiration to millions around the world. 

Take a look at the following inspirational Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes that serve as life lessons.

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.

When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out.

In every good marriage, it helps sometimes to be a little deaf.

Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true.

Don't be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.

If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it.

My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.