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Bill clinton Quote by Alan Dershowitz

“I asked Hillary why she had chosen Yale Law School over Harvard. She laughed and said, "Harvard didn't want me." I said I was sorry that Harvard turned her down. She replied, "No, I received letters of acceptance from both schools." She explained that a boyfriend had then invited her to the…” quote by Alan Dershowitz
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““I asked Hillary why she had chosen Yale Law School over Harvard. She laughed and said, "Harvard didn't want me." I said I was sorry that Harvard turned her down. She replied, "No, I received letters of acceptance from both schools." She explained that a boyfriend had then invited her to the Harvard Law School Christmas Dance, at which several Harvard Law School professors were in attendance. She asked one for advice about which law school to attend. The professor looked at her and said, "We have about as many woen as we need here. You should go to Yale. The teaching there is more suited to women." I asked who the professor was, and she told me she couldn't remember his name but that she thought it started with a B. A few days later, we met the Clintons at a party. I came prepared with yearbook photos of all the professors from that year whose name began with B. She immediately identified the culprit. He was the same professor who had given my A student a D, because she didn't "think like a lawyer." It turned out, of course, that it was this professor -- and not the two (and no doubt more) brilliant women he was prejudiced against - who didn't think like a lawyer. Lawyers are supposed to act on the evidence, rather than on their prejudgments. The sexist professor ultimately became a judge on the International Court of Justice. I told Hillary that it was too bad I wasn't at that Christmas dance, because I would have urged her to come to Harvard. She laughed, turned to her husband, and said, "But then I wouldn't have met him... and he wouldn't have become President.””

Alan Dershowitz

About This Quote

Source Interview: The New York Times, 2022

Bias and gender stereotypes influence academic advice, affecting career paths and personal relationships.

In simple terms: Prejudices shape decisions and opportunities.

Key Takeaway

Challenge assumptions and seek diverse perspectives.

Themes

bias gender education career relationships

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analysis commentary

When to use this quote

  • college selection
  • career counseling
  • networking
  • mentor selection
  • policy reform

Key Concepts

sociology institutional bias decision making

Questions to Reflect On

  • What steps can you take to recognize hidden biases in advice?
  • How might you support equitable decision‑making in education?
A Different Perspective

Individual agency can be limited by systemic bias.

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