Now I admit I made mistakes — especially wearing that beret — but the attention and judgment that I received — not the story, but that I personally received — was unprecedented, i was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo and, of course, 'that woman.' I was known by many, but actually known by few. I get it. It was easy to forget 'that woman' was dimensional and had a soul.

Monica Lewinsky

Categorized in : Politics

I was Patient Zero. The first person to have their reputation completely destroyed worldwide via the Internet.

Monica Lewinsky

reputation zero firsts

I voted Republican this year; the Democrats left a bad taste in my mouth.

Monica Lewinsky

stupid mouths years

I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened.

Monica Lewinsky

clinton regret president

I've learned not to put things in my mouth that are bad for me.

Monica Lewinsky

ive-learned women mouths

Let's acknowledge the difference between speaking up with intention and speaking up for attention.

Monica Lewinsky

speaking-up differences attention

Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any 'abuse' came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position.

Monica Lewinsky

boss powerful order

Overnight, I went from being a completely private figure to a publicly humiliated one. I was Patient Zero.

Monica Lewinsky

patient figures zero

It’s time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress.

Monica Lewinsky

blue-dress dresses blue

Some people are born great and some have greatness thrust upon them

Monica Lewinsky

born greatness people

I try to make very careful decisions about what I choose to do, and it's - I know that unfortunately one of the misperceptions about me, I think, is that I'm sort of a moth to the limelight.

Monica Lewinsky

decision trying thinking

We talk a lot about our right to freedom of expression, but we need to talk more about our responsibility to freedom of expression. We all want to be heard, but let's acknowledge the difference between speaking up with intention and speaking up for attention

Monica Lewinsky

speaking-up differences responsibility

The more shame, the more clicks. The more clicks, the more advertising dollars.

Monica Lewinsky

advertising shame dollars

People who know Clinton knew the guy has a real problem keeping his hands off women.

Monica Lewinsky

real hands people

Try and have neutral compassion toward the perpetrator. Step outside the sting of the incident and realize that this person is trying to erase their own inadequacy or unhappiness by transferring it to you. It won't make the incident go away, but it's one thing you can do to reduce the pain.

Monica Lewinsky

going-away pain compassion

I did though at least expect him to correct the false statements he made when he was trying to protect the Presidency. Instead, he talked about it as though I had laid it all out there for the taking. I was the buffet and he just couldn't resist the dessert.

Monica Lewinsky

dessert buffets trying

I know I will never have an affair with a married man again.

Monica Lewinsky

affair married men

You can insist on a different end to the story.

Monica Lewinsky

different ends stories

Changing behaviours begins with evolving beliefs.

Monica Lewinsky

behaviour evolve belief

I mean, there was a portion, of course, that I think, when I look back now, that there was a portion of what attracted me must have been the awe of him being a powerful man in this environment, not to take away from who he is as a real person.

Monica Lewinsky

powerful real fear

Public humiliation is a commodity and shame is an industry.

Monica Lewinsky

humiliation commodity shame