I do not believe it is the function of the judiciary to step in and change the law because the times have changed. I do well understand the difference between legislating and judging. As a judge, it is not my function to develop public policy. Sandra Day O'Connor More Quotes by Sandra Day O'Connor More Quotes From Sandra Day O'Connor 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. Sandra Day O'Connor common-threadskwanzaateamwork 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. Sandra Day O'Connor equalityresponsibilityopportunity I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases. Sandra Day O'Connor importantinspirationalthinking Be aware that even before you have reached your ultimate professional destination, if you always strive for excellence, you can and should have a substantial impact on the world in which you live. Sandra Day O'Connor impactinspiringgraduation Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom. Sandra Day O'Connor learningtaskstime I have always thought that while it's wonderful to be the first to do something, you don't want to be the last. Sandra Day O'Connor wonderful We don't accomplish anything in this world alone. Sandra Day O'Connor kwanzaalifeworld Unfortunately civility is hard to codify or legislate, but you know it when you see it. It's possible to disagree without being disagreeable. Sandra Day O'Connor civilityconflictmanners Apparently a great many people have forgotten that the framers of our Constitution went to such great effort to create an independent judicial branch that would not be subject to retaliation by either the executive branch or the legislative branch because of some decision made by those judges. Sandra Day O'Connor independentjudgingpeople 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. Sandra Day O'Connor realappreciationcountry 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. Sandra Day O'Connor imbalancegainsrooms I don't know that there are any short cuts to doing a good job. Sandra Day O'Connor good-daycuttingjobs The fact is that knowledge about the Constitution and the Court is not something that is handed down through the gene pool; every generation has to learn it. And I'm not sure the recent generations have done that good a job of learning about it. Sandra Day O'Connor poolconstitutiondone How dare you make my life a felony. Sandra Day O'Connor lgbtdaregay The courts of this country should not be the places where resolution of disputes begins. They should be the places where the disputes end after alternative methods of resolving disputes have been considered and tried. Sandra Day O'Connor conflictalternativescountry The power I exert on the court depends on the power of the power of my arguments, not my gender Sandra Day O'Connor genderargumentcourt This chance will stand before you only once. Sandra Day O'Connor empoweringwomenchance The destiny of the woman must be shaped to a large extent on her own conception of her spiritual imperative and her place in society. Sandra Day O'Connor conceptiondestinyspiritual I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given. Sandra Day O'Connor gratitudeappreciatethinking As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express yourself - and not just by voting. Sandra Day O'Connor votingcitizensneeds
