---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won…"
description: "\"“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.”\" — Ann Shen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg"
---

#  Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who…

![“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.” quote by Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg)

> ““Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.””

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hard-won achievements often arise from embracing bold, unconventional choices.

**In simple terms:** Success can come from daring, imperfect actions.

Key Takeaway

Encourage taking bold risks to drive progress.

Themes

risk empowerment women leadership

Mood

determined hopeful assertive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- startup pitches
- leadership workshops
- team brainstorming
- personal projects

Key Concepts

feminist theory innovation career development

Questions to Reflect On

- What risky move could advance your goals?
- How do you learn from bold mistakes?

A Different Perspective

Boldness can lead to failure if not balanced with strategy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/by-being-willing-to-be-a-bad-artist-you-have-a-chance-to-be-an-artist/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [If you are not willing to take the bad with the good, than you aren't willing to fight &amp; push to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-cowell/if-you-are-not-willing-to-take-the-bad-with-the-good-than-you-aren-t/)

[Larry Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-cowell/)

> [Does the imagination dwell the most Upon a woman won or a woman lost?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/does-the-imagination-dwell-the-most-upon-a-woman-won-or-a-woman-lost/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [“I won’t put up with a woman who tries to put me down. But I might put out if she lets me put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-won-t-put-up-with-a-woman-who-tries-to-put-me-down-but-i-might-put/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“No man won a woman's heart by running away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/no-man-won-a-woman-s-heart-by-running-away/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [I remember the first time my mother voted, and it was a hard-won battle to get the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/i-remember-the-first-time-my-mother-voted-and-it-was-a-hard-won/)

[Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/)

> [“Your hard-won triumphs can be wholly negated if you live in a climate where your victories are seen as threatening, incorrect, distasteful, or --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/your-hard-won-triumphs-can-be-wholly-negated-if-you-live-in-a-climate/)

[Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/)

> [Sometimes, you're going to have to work hard, sometimes extra hard, and sometimes you still won't get that recognition. That's life. That's the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/sometimes-you-re-going-to-have-to-work-hard-sometimes-extra-hard-and/)

[Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/)

> [“This equilibrium was so hard-won.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/this-equilibrium-was-so-hard-won/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [If you can't have fun you won't work hard, and if you don't work hard you won't get the benefit of your training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/if-you-can-t-have-fun-you-won-t-work-hard-and-if-you-don-t-work-hard/)

[Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/)

> [Happiness was my choice, and though it is hard-won, I am the only person who can stand in the way of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-nielson/happiness-was-my-choice-and-though-it-is-hard-won-i-am-the-only/)

[Stephanie Nielson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-nielson/)

> [I'm so grateful for where I am now, but I think I'm more grateful because it's been so hard-won; I haven't given up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneva-carr/i-m-so-grateful-for-where-i-am-now-but-i-think-i-m-more-grateful/)

[Geneva Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneva-carr/)

> [Love is hard to find, but once you find it you won't regret it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-hard-to-find-but-once-you-find-it-you-won-t-regret-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We all have different thresholds for sentimentality. For me, it's a hard won happy ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/we-all-have-different-thresholds-for-sentimentality-for-me-it-s-a/)

[Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/)

> [This is a long-delayed, hard-won, and badly needed victory for millions of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-murray/this-is-a-long-delayed-hard-won-and-badly-needed-victory-for-millions/)

[Patty Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-murray/)

## More by Ann Shen

> [“As America’s first movie sweetheart, Pickford was savvy enough to leave her name off the executive producer and director credits in order to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/as-america-s-first-movie-sweetheart-pickford-was-savvy-enough-to/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“Not bad for a Jewish girl from Brooklyn who, upon her arrival at Harvard Law School, had been asked by the dean why she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/not-bad-for-a-jewish-girl-from-brooklyn-who-upon-her-arrival-at/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“To be a bad girl is to break any socially accepted rule. For some women, it’s the way they dress. For other girls, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/to-be-a-bad-girl-is-to-break-any-socially-accepted-rule-for-some/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“Quant was the first designer to design for her generation—and she was great at it. She didn’t care about making money; she wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/quant-was-the-first-designer-to-design-for-her-generation-and-she-was/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“the general effect of attempting things beyond us, even though we fail, is to enlarge and liberalize the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-general-effect-of-attempting-things-beyond-us-even-though-we-fail/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“During her nomination process, she got wind that one of her law school classmates was telling everyone about her demeaning nickname in school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/during-her-nomination-process-she-got-wind-that-one-of-her-law-school/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“This is a book about women. This is a book about girls who had a ton of fear and personal flaws and faced insurmountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/this-is-a-book-about-women-this-is-a-book-about-girls-who-had-a-ton/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“The book presents a broad world of women coming from all eras, countries, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. They’re rabble-rousers from all sorts of disciplines:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/the-book-presents-a-broad-world-of-women-coming-from-all-eras/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“During World War I, Oakley offered to train a regiment of women sharpshooters, but the government ignored her. Instead, she set out to assist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/during-world-war-i-oakley-offered-to-train-a-regiment-of-women/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“Her message: the way to get what you want out of life is not through a man but through your career; set your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/her-message-the-way-to-get-what-you-want-out-of-life-is-not-through-a/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

> [“You are never too old, too small, or too late to live the life you’re meant to lead. Especially if it means rewriting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/you-are-never-too-old-too-small-or-too-late-to-live-the-life-you-re/)

[Ann Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

[Explore all 12 Ann Shen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/)

## More Won Woman quotes

> [“I won’t put up with a woman who tries to put me down. But I might put out if she lets me put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-won-t-put-up-with-a-woman-who-tries-to-put-me-down-but-i-might-put/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Does the imagination dwell the most Upon a woman won or a woman lost?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/does-the-imagination-dwell-the-most-upon-a-woman-won-or-a-woman-lost/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [“No man won a woman's heart by running away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/no-man-won-a-woman-s-heart-by-running-away/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

Browse all 4 Won Woman quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ann Shen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-won-by-a-woman-who-was-willing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Won Woman"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-won-by-a-woman-who-was-willing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/ann-shen-37208_won-woman_everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-wo_434054.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won by a woman who was willing to be bad in the best sense of the word.” — Ann Shen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ann Shen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-shen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Everything we’ve gained has been hard-won...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-won-by-a-woman-who-was-willing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-shen/everything-we-ve-gained-has-been-hard-won-by-a-woman-who-was-willing/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
