Sonia Sotomayor

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.”

“Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society.”

“Experience has taught me that you cannot value dreams according to the odds of their coming true. Their real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire.”

“Remember that no one succeeds alone. Never walk alone in your future paths.”

“Don't let fear stop you. Don't give up because you are paralyzed by insecurity or uncertainty. Go out and do things.”

“The dynamism of any diverse community depends not only on the diversity itself but on promoting a sense of belonging among those who formerly would have been considered and felt themselves outsiders.”

“I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.”

“There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested. Whether it's a serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.”

“You know, failure hurts. Any kind of failure stings. If you live in the sting, you will - undoubtedly - fail. My way of getting past the sting is to say no, I'm just not going to let this get me down.”

“I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.”

“We have to build bridges of understanding and communication, not walls of division and exclusion.”

“I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge, regardless of their background or life experiences.”

“The law is not a morality play. It's not the battle of good and evil. It's the battle of wills, and the battle of thoughts.”

“A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.”

“The process of judging is a human one, and it is unreasonable to expect that it could be otherwise.”