When I call myself an affirmative action baby, I'm talking about the essence of what affirmative action was when it started. Sonia Sotomayor actionaffirmativebaby Change image and share on social
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. Sonia Sotomayor appreciatebacklife Change image and share on social
It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand. Sonia Sotomayor historyimportantshape Change image and share on social
I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge regardless of their background or life experiences. Sonia Sotomayor backgroundequalexperience Change image and share on social
I can and do aspire to be greater than the sum total of my experiences, but I accept my limitations. I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and heritage but attempt, as the Supreme Court suggests, continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate. Sonia Sotomayor acceptaspireattempt share on social
Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences, our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging. Sonia Sotomayor bearculturaldifference Change image and share on social
I listened very, very carefully to the world around me to pick up the signals of when trouble was coming. Not that I could stop it. But it made me observant. That was helpful when I became a lawyer, because I knew how to read people's signals. Sonia Sotomayor carefullycomehelpful share on social
An alcoholic father, poverty, my own juvenile diabetes, the limited English my parents spoke - although my mother has become completely bilingual since. All these things intrude on what most people think of as happiness. Sonia Sotomayor alcoholicbilingualcompletely share on social
We apply law to facts. We don't apply feelings to facts. Sonia Sotomayor applyfactfeeling Change image and share on social
Since I have difficulty defining merit and what merit alone means - and in any context, whether it's judicial or otherwise - I accept that different experiences in and of itself, bring merit to the system. Sonia Sotomayor acceptbringcontext share on social