Ruth Bader Ginsburg was more than a Supreme Court Justice — she was a force of nature wrapped in a lace collar. Her words cut through injustice like a gavel through silence, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, wit, and relentless determination. If you’ve ever needed a reminder to stand tall, speak up, and fight like hell for what’s right, these Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes will do the job.
Some people make history. Others rewrite it. Ruth Bader Ginsburg did both.
From the moment she stepped into Harvard Law School as one of only nine women in a sea of 500 men, she knew the odds were stacked against her. Give up and go home? Not her style. She battled discrimination in the classroom, in the job market, and even in the highest court in the land — changing the legal landscape for women and marginalized communities along the way.
Her words, much like her dissents, were expertly-crafted battle cries. Whether she was championing equality, dismantling outdated gender roles, or reminding us that real change takes time, these Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes continue to inspire generations.
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Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t put a crack in the glass ceiling that women bumped up against for years — she shattered it with the force of her well-argued dissents. As one of the few women attending Harvard Law School in the 1950s, she balanced academics, motherhood, and caring for her husband through cancer — all while proving she could run mental circles around most of her male peers. After transferring to Columbia Law School, she graduated at the top of her class. Law firms refused to hire her, not because of her aptitude, but simply because she was a woman. So, she fought back — for the rest of her life.
As a volunteer attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), she tackled gender discrimination case by case, building the foundation for equality in the courts. Her brilliance led her to the federal court, and in 1993, she became the second female justice on the United States Supreme Court. For years, she was the only woman on the bench, holding her ground with sharp dissents that became legendary.
Dubbed a cultural icon as “The Notorious RBG,” she spent nearly three decades shaping American law. When she passed away in 2020, she left behind not just legal victories, but a legacy of fearless persistence.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes About Resilience
From the start, Ruth Ginsburg fought against barriers designed to keep women in their place. After overcoming gender discrimination in law school only to have it continue to be an issue in the workplace, she carved her own path, proving that persistence is more powerful than prejudice.
Her personal life demanded the same grit. RBG didn’t just talk about resilience, she lived it. The following RBG quotes capture her relentless determination, reminding us all that setbacks are just stepping stones in disguise.
- “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
- “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
- “So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.”
- “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
- “Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.”
- “I’m a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.”
- “You can’t have it all, all at once.”
- “Dissents speak to a future age.”
- “A gender line…helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.”
- “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”
- “I didn’t change the Constitution; the equality principle was there from the start.”
- “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.”
- “When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune it out.”
- “I’m dejected, but only momentarily, when I can’t get a fifth vote for something I deeply believe is right.”
- “Don’t be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.”
Dissent with Style Using RBG’s Boldest Words
When Ruth Bader Ginsburg disagreed with a ruling, she dissented with purpose, precision, and a touch of fire. Her sharp, meticulously crafted dissents became legendary during her tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court. They were blueprints for the future, aimed at shaping public opinion and inspiring legislative change. She knew that today’s minority opinion could become tomorrow’s law — and she made sure her words would stand the test of time.
- “Dissents are appeals to the intelligence of a future day.”
- “Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”
- “The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people.”
- “I dissent.”
- “A constitution, as important as it is, will mean nothing unless the people are yearning for liberty and freedom.”
- “We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts with three words: ‘We, the people.’”
- “Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.”
- “The pedestal upon which women have been placed has all too often, upon closer inspection, been revealed as a cage.”
- “The dissenter’s hope is that they are writing not for today, but for tomorrow.”
- “Legislators know much less than we the people give them credit for.”
- “The history of the Constitution is one of the story of the extension of rights to people once left out.”
- “A system of justice will be the richer for diversity of background and experience.”
- “I tell law students…if you are going to be a lawyer and just practice your profession, you have a skill. But if you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself.”
- “The dissents are not necessarily written for today but for generations to come.”
- “If you want to influence people, you have to touch their hearts, not just win the argument.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes About Women’s Rights
Ruth Bader Ginsburg never asked for permission. She demanded equality. Her own experiences with gender discrimination fueled her desire to be an advocate for women. She co-founded the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, challenging laws that treated women as less capable, less important, and less deserving. Case by case, she built the legal foundation that gave American women stronger protections in work, education, and family life.
When she joined the Supreme Court in 1993, she wasn’t the first female justice. However, unlike Sandra Day O’Connor, who often ruled with caution, RBG took an unapologetically feminist stance, fighting for legal precedents that would last for generations. The following quotes by Ruth Bader Ginsburg capture her lifelong commitment to women’s rights. To RBG, equality wasn’t a favor, it was a fundamental right.
- “Women’s rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda.”
- “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
- “The gender line helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.”
- “Mothers should be able to parent without discrimination.”
- “It’s not women’s liberation; it’s women’s and men’s liberation.”
- “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”
- “If society is to evolve as equal, men must take an active role in caregiving.”
- “Young women today have to be willing to fight for the things they care about.”
- “You cannot have it all, all at once. Who—man or woman—has it all, all at once?”
- “The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When the government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a full adult human responsible for her own choices.”
- “A gender line…once thought necessary, is now recognized as an artifact of a past that no longer should control our present and future.”
- “If I had any talent in the world, I would be a great diva.”
- “My mother told me two things constantly: to be a lady and to be independent.”
- “Women, when they’re empowered, bring so much to the table.”
- “Feminism is not about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
- “Every generation of women has to fight for equality.”
Life Lessons and Other Advice from Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t just talk about persistence, patience, and purpose — she embodied them. She believed in fighting for what mattered, but with a smart strategy rather than fiery outrage. She valued listening as much as speaking and saw every challenge as an opportunity to create lasting change.
- “Don’t be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.”
- “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”
- “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
- “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself.”
- “Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.”
- “Work hard, stay focused, and surround yourself with people who lift you up.”
- “Fight for what you care about, but do it in a way that others will join you.”
- “Being a lawyer is not just about knowing the law—it’s about serving justice.”
- “A meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated, or being perfect. It is about being real, being humble, and being able to share yourself with others.”
- “You can’t have it all at once, but you can have it all over time.”
- “A person who sees injustice and does nothing about it is complicit.”
- “In the court of life, character is your best defense.”
- “Listen more than you speak, and when you speak, make it count.”
- “The most important thing you can do is to nurture the next generation.”
RBG-Worthy Instagram Captions
Need a caption as bold as The Notorious RBG herself? Whether you’re standing up for justice, channeling your inner dissenter, or just looking for a little inspiration, these RBG quotes and one-liners capture the essence of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy. Because when it comes to equality, persistence, and speaking up, you can never go wrong with a little RBG energy.
- A voice that stands for justice will never be ignored
- Change happens one step at a time. Start walking!
- Courage is speaking up when it matters most
- Defend justice like your future depends on it
- Dissenting my way through life
- Equal rights are not up for debate
- Fairness and equality are always worth the fight
- Fight for what you believe in—fiercely and fearlessly
- I’m not bossy—I’m leading the way
- Justice, but make it fashion
- Lead with justice, speak with courage
- Legacy is built through action, not words
- Making history one dissent at a time
- Notorious RBG energy — activated!
- Progress is made by those who refuse to stay silent
- RBG taught me to fight with words, not fists
- Rights are won by those who refuse to give up
- Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes
- Stand up, speak out, and keep dissenting
- The future is female—and fair
- The legacy of justice is built one dissent at a time
- Lead with justice, speak with courage
- Throwing out injustice like it’s an outdated law
- When they go low, I dissent
- Women belong in all places where decisions are made Period
What’s Your Favorite Ruth Bader Ginsburg Quotes?
Which of these quotes makes you want to tie on a lace collar and dissent in style like the Mighty RBG? Is one of your favorite Ruth Bader Ginsburg quotes missing from this list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
