--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, I've never believed, in…" description: "\"You know, I've never believed, in anything, that you had to have role models who looked like you to do something. If I'd been waiting for a black, fema..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/condoleezza-rice-807_black_you-know-i-ve-never-believed-in-anything_496167.jpg" --- # You know, I've never believed, in anything, that you had… ![“You know, I've never believed, in anything, that you had to have role models who looked like you to do something. If I'd been waiting for a black, female, soviet specialist role model, I'd be still waiting.” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/condoleezza-rice-807_black_you-know-i-ve-never-believed-in-anything_496167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/condoleezza-rice-807_black_you-know-i-ve-never-believed-in-anything_496167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/condoleezza-rice-807_black_you-know-i-ve-never-believed-in-anything_496167.jpg) > “You know, I've never believed, in anything, that you had to have role models who looked like you to do something. If I'd been waiting for a black, female, soviet specialist role model, I'd be still waiting.” [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that waiting for identical role models limits ambition; success isn’t confined to similarity. **In simple terms:** You don’t need a look‑alike role model. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration beyond identical examples. Themes identity inspiration ambition Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Education - career planning - personal growth Key Concepts Sociology psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - What qualities matter more than appearance? - How can diverse examples broaden horizons? A Different Perspective Role models may not reflect all experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Role model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-model/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Search for role models you can look up to and people who take an interest in your career. But here's an important warning: you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/search-for-role-models-you-can-look-up-to-and-people-who-take-an/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I've had frank conversations with theaters who say, 'We love your play, but we've already done a play by another black person this year,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katori-hall/i-ve-had-frank-conversations-with-theaters-who-say-we-love-your-play/) [Katori Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katori-hall/) > [I had very much wanted to be the very first black female editor-in-chief of 'Vogue.' Barring that, I wanted to work at 'Entertainment Weekly.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-had-very-much-wanted-to-be-the-very-first-black-female-editor-in/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a black female, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/in-the-beginning-i-found-myself-dealing-with-a-show-business-dictated/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [“The black female mathematicians who walked into Langley in 1943 would find themselves at the intersection of these great transformations, their sharp minds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/the-black-female-mathematicians-who-walked-into-langley-in-1943-would/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [Growing up, usually when I saw a black female on television, she was either a broken character or sidekick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-underwood/growing-up-usually-when-i-saw-a-black-female-on-television-she-was/) [Lexi Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-underwood/) > [When I was at The Orlando Sentinel as a sports columnist, it was embarrassing that I was the only black female sports columnist at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/when-i-was-at-the-orlando-sentinel-as-a-sports-columnist-it-was/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [One of the things that really does annoy me is just comments on my hair. 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Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-j-williams/) > [Black women are the most passionate commentators, and even as black female geeks and nerds, they are rarely acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/black-women-are-the-most-passionate-commentators-and-even-as-black/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [“Despite Grumblethorpe's noises of disapproval, Esme knew she liked the family pets.She just did't approve of having so many of them in her mistress's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/despite-grumblethorpe-s-noises-of-disapproval-esme-knew-she-liked-the/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [It is not the case that I can predict your views knowing that you are a white male. I cannot predict your views if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mac-donald/it-is-not-the-case-that-i-can-predict-your-views-knowing-that-you-are/) [Heather Mac Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mac-donald/) > [I am very aware of being black and female because that's what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-am-very-aware-of-being-black-and-female-because-that-s-what-i-am/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Every two weeks, every Friday on the dot, I would go into my dean's office and be like, 'listen, this is the standard that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/every-two-weeks-every-friday-on-the-dot-i-would-go-into-my-dean-s/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) ## More by Condoleezza Rice > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I remember at the time of 9/11 that there were women who went out of their way to escort Muslim women to grocery stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-remember-at-the-time-of-9-11-that-there-were-women-who-went-out-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm not personally fearful, but I look out, and there are a number of things that concern me, and I'm hopeful that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-not-personally-fearful-but-i-look-out-and-there-are-a-number-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [ \[I'm\] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-who-still-has-a-lot-of-living/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think there are plenty of men out there who are capable and accomplished in their own realm. You don't have to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-plenty-of-men-out-there-who-are-capable-and/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I believed Afghanistan was always going to be hard. It's the fifth poorest country in the world. 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