What do Golda Meir, the fourth prime minister of Israel; Constance Baker Motley, the first female, African American federal judge in the United States; and Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of England, have in common? All of them are tremendously strong ladies who weren't afraid to speak their minds. It's not just men who wear the pants in the political realm. We've rounded up some of the best, most badass quotes from female politicians, and these ladies are every bit as inspiring as their male counterparts.
From the president of Chile to civil rights leaders in the United States, here's what some of the world's most powerful women have said about empowerment and democracy. Though they may have lived during different time frames, these badass women not only demonstrated leadership in their actions, but also proved it in their words.
Inspiration doesn't have to come from motivational speakers or cheesy posters. Each of these female politicians showed incredible amounts of courage by standing up for what she believed in, which is a skill we can all stand to emulate. Even though many of these ladies on this list have since passed away, their tremendous legacies will live on through these immortal words.
On Dreams
The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.
You've probably heard this quote before, but did you know its origin? Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia, delivered these words during a commencement speech at Harvard.
On Democracy
For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.
Michele Bachelet, president of Chile, told The New York Times that democracies are better when women can hold office. Bachelet made the remarks in 2012 while serving as the executive director of UN Women, where she worked to achieve female empowerment in 75 countries.
On Taking Risks
I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.
Golda Meir, Israel's fourth prime minister, apparently was often asked whether she felt more limited as a woman in politics, to which she responded that she didn't know, because she'd never been a man. Meir spoke candidly about everything from sexism to old age.
On Feminism
We've chosen the path to equality, please don't let them turn us around.
Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice presidential candidate in the United States, delivered an impassioned speech about women's equality in 1984. Ferraro said that women can be more than wives and mothers, adding that men should support equal rights for women.
On Life
I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
You've probably heard Eleanor Roosevelt's famous statement that "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." But this lesser-known quote is just as powerful. As a Democratic activist, Roosevelt was much more than just a first lady — she was a political force.
On Sexist Beauty Standards
If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.
Hillary Clinton's pantsuits have been praised and maligned by plenty of fashion critics, but this shrewd (and hilarious) statement is a great reminder of how female politicians are treated differently than male politicians.
On Goals
Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.
Constance Baker Motley, who wrote the original complaint in the famous Brown v. Board of Education case, became the U.S.'s first female, African-American federal judge in 1966. She offered this now-famous quote during her work with the civil rights movement. Motley also penned an autobiography about her political experience, which was published in 1999.
On Perseverance
I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
Thatcher shared many tidbits of wit and wisdom over the years, but this statement may be one of her best. It's OK to know what you want — and to pursue your goals relentlessly.
On The Government Shutdown
In a democracy, hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can't otherwise win their fights through elections, can't win their fights in Congress, can't win their fights for the presidency, and can't win their fights in Courts. For this right-wing minority, hostage-taking is all they have left — a last gasp of those who cannot cope with the realities of our democracy.
The U.S. government shutdown isn't exactly the greatest memory in our country's recent history. And Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren wasn't afraid to call her fellow politicians out and tell them how she really felt about the situation.
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