---
title: "Best Constance Baker Motley Quotes"
description: "Constance Baker Motley was an American jurist and politician who served as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b007/author-constance-baker-motley-25012.jpg"
---

![Portrait of Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b007/author-constance-baker-motley-25012.jpg)

# Constance Baker Motley

(1921–2005)   Lawyer   United States

 **46** quotes in **231** categories

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Constance Baker Motley was a lawyer from the United States, best known for *Equal justice under law*.

## Quick Facts About Constance Baker Motley

Born September 14, 1921

Died September 28, 2005

Nationality United States

Profession Lawyer

Notable works Equal justice under law

## About Constance Baker Motley

Constance Baker Motley was an American jurist and politician who served as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. A key strategist of the civil rights movement, she was state senator, and Borough President of Manhattan in New York City before becoming a United States federal judge.

## Awards & Honors

Presidential Citizens Medal National Women's Hall of Fame Spingarn Medal Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame Candace Award Elizabeth Blackwell Award honorary degree from Spelman College

##  Quotes by Constance Baker Motley · Page 2

> [King consciously steered away from legal claims and instead relied on civil disobedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/king-consciously-steered-away-from-legal-claims-and-instead-relied-on/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[Civil disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb7/constance-baker-motley-14556_civil-disobedience_king-consciously-steered-away-from-legal_2040407.png)

> [In high school, I won a prize for an essay on tuberculosis. When I got through writing the essay, I was sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/in-high-school-i-won-a-prize-for-an-essay-on-tuberculosis-when-i-got/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[Asthma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6c/constance-baker-motley-14556_asthma_in-high-school-i-won-a-prize-for-an-essa_2623792.png)

> [The women's rights movement of the 1970s had not yet emerged; except for Bella Abzug, I had no women supporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/the-women-s-rights-movement-of-the-1970s-had-not-yet-emerged-except/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[1970s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-1970s-440/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/constance-baker-motley-14556_1970s_the-women-s-rights-movement-of-the-1970s_3019188.jpg)

> [I never thought I would live long enough to see the legal profession change to the extent it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/i-never-thought-i-would-live-long-enough-to-see-the-legal-profession/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/constance-baker-motley-14556_change_i-never-thought-i-would-live-long-enough_2440471.png)

> [Had it not been for James Meredith, who was willing to risk his life, the University of Mississippi would still be all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/had-it-not-been-for-james-meredith-who-was-willing-to-risk-his-life/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/constance-baker-motley-14556_life_had-it-not-been-for-james-meredith-who-w_182372.png)

> [Lack of encouragement never deterred me. I was the kind of person who would not be put down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/lack-of-encouragement-never-deterred-me-i-was-the-kind-of-person-who/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

[Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/constance-baker-motley-14556_encouragement_lack-of-encouragement-never-deterred-me_1939193.png)

## Constance Baker Motley by topic

[Racism (13)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/constance-baker-motley/)

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