--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of course, I am the first democratically…" description: "\"Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of expectations. Because I represent the aspirations ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg" --- # Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman… ![“Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of expectations. Because I represent the aspirations of women all over Africa, I must succeed for them. I must keep the door open for women's participation in politics at the highest level. That is…” quote by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg) > “Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of expectations. Because I represent the aspirations of women all over Africa, I must succeed for them. I must keep the door open for women's participation in politics at the highest level. That is both humbling and exciting.” [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She feels the weight of representing African women, seeing her presidency as a catalyst for broader female political participation. **In simple terms:** First elected African woman president feels responsibility to inspire others. Key Takeaway Lead with humility and open doors for future women leaders. Themes leadership gender equality representation responsibility Mood hopeful determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - government - continental politics - women's rights Key Concepts political empowerment role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to support women in leadership? - How does representation affect societal change? A Different Perspective Expectations may limit personal freedom and create pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Humbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humbling/) [Participation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participation/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Woman president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-president/) ## Related quotes > [You get elected, often, if you're a woman, on the strength of the women's vote; then you get into office, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clift/you-get-elected-often-if-you-re-a-woman-on-the-strength-of-the-women/) [Eleanor Clift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clift/) > [I started in the mailroom, literally, as an intern... in 1974. The legislator I was working for at the time said, 'I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-started-in-the-mailroom-literally-as-an-intern-in-1974-the/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [SUSTAINABLE PEACE IS POSSIBLE ONLY WITH WOMEN'S FULL PARTICIPATION, their perspectives, their leadership, their daily, equal presence wherever we seek to make and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/sustainable-peace-is-possible-only-with-women-s-full-participation/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Success will be measured by change in the appallingly high levels of violence directed at women online and in the physical world, and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-moss/success-will-be-measured-by-change-in-the-appallingly-high-levels-of/) [Tara Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-moss/) > [“The topic of women’s participation in the French Revolution has generally received little attention from historians, who have displayed a tendency to minimize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-elson-roessler/the-topic-of-women-s-participation-in-the-french-revolution-has/) Shirley Elson-Roessler > [I don't face any particular problems as a woman president because I have been a professional for a long time. I keep telling people:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-don-t-face-any-particular-problems-as-a-woman-president-because-i/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [“Does rough weather choose men over women? Does the sun beat on men, leaving women nice and cool?' Nyawira asked rather sharply. 'Women bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/does-rough-weather-choose-men-over-women-does-the-sun-beat-on-men/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [I was blessed to get an education available to few black women in Africa at that time. Every woman should be able to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mavimbela/i-was-blessed-to-get-an-education-available-to-few-black-women-in/) Julia Mavimbela > [I hear a lot from women in Africa. And not just from dark-skinned women but from all women struggling because of insecurity. They thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoudia-diop/i-hear-a-lot-from-women-in-africa-and-not-just-from-dark-skinned/) [Khoudia Diop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoudia-diop/) > [What we have to learn from the women of Africa is that every day is worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelique-kidjo/what-we-have-to-learn-from-the-women-of-africa-is-that-every-day-is/) [Angelique Kidjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelique-kidjo/) > [I have led the way for moving women from traditional roles to strategic positions and inspired girls and women throughout Africa to seek leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/i-have-led-the-way-for-moving-women-from-traditional-roles-to/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [There's a false perception that women in Africa somehow don't love their babies they way we do, don't grieve their loss the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/there-s-a-false-perception-that-women-in-africa-somehow-don-t-love/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [Women in Africa, generally a lot needs to be done for women. Women are not being educated, not only in Angola but my trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-farrow/women-in-africa-generally-a-lot-needs-to-be-done-for-women-women-are/) [Mia Farrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-farrow/) > [Women in Africa are really the pillar of the society, are the most productive segment of society, actually. They do agriculture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/women-in-africa-are-really-the-pillar-of-the-society-are-the-most-2/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Women in Africa are really the pillar of the society, are the most productive segment of society, actually. Women do kids. Women do cooking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/women-in-africa-are-really-the-pillar-of-the-society-are-the-most/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## More by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf > [The people of Liberia know what it means to be deprived of clean water, but we also know what it means to see our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/the-people-of-liberia-know-what-it-means-to-be-deprived-of-clean/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [I don't run a woman government. I run a government of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-don-t-run-a-woman-government-i-run-a-government-of-people/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/if-your-dreams-do-not-scare-you-they-are-not-big-enough/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [I don't face any particular problems as a woman president because I have been a professional for a long time. I keep telling people:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-don-t-face-any-particular-problems-as-a-woman-president-because-i/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [I've been involved in politics for quite some time. I've held positions, and my experiences are very deep, and I think I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-ve-been-involved-in-politics-for-quite-some-time-i-ve-held/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [If your dreams don't scare you, you aren't dreaming big enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/if-your-dreams-don-t-scare-you-you-aren-t-dreaming-big-enough/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [In Liberia, the big challenge that remains for us is job creation. We want young people to work or go to school. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/in-liberia-the-big-challenge-that-remains-for-us-is-job-creation-we/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [I work hard, I work late, I have nothing on my conscience. When I go to bed, I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-work-hard-i-work-late-i-have-nothing-on-my-conscience-when-i-go-to/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Women work harder. And women are more honest; they have less reasons to be corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/women-work-harder-and-women-are-more-honest-they-have-less-reasons-to/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [To girls and women everywhere, I issue a simple invitation. My sisters, my daughters, my friends; find your voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/to-girls-and-women-everywhere-i-issue-a-simple-invitation-my-sisters/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Future generations will judge us not by what we say, but what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/future-generations-will-judge-us-not-by-what-we-say-but-what-we-do/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [When I took office, Liberia began to recover from years of neglect. Our people have brought clean water into the heart of Monrovia to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/when-i-took-office-liberia-began-to-recover-from-years-of-neglect-our/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Ebola is not just a health crisis. Across West Africa, a generation of young people risks being lost to an economic catastrophe,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/ebola-is-not-just-a-health-crisis-across-west-africa-a-generation-of/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [I think the majority of the Liberian people want peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/i-think-the-majority-of-the-liberian-people-want-peace/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Our entire judicial system in Liberia has broken down because of the many years of lawlessness, indiscipline and warfare. We need more training to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/our-entire-judicial-system-in-liberia-has-broken-down-because-of-the/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) [Explore all 49 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) ## More Aspiration quotes > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/noise-has-taken-the-place-of-punk-rock-people-who-play-noise-have-no/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [Our task today is to bring India to the threshold of the twenty-first century, free of burden of poverty, legacy of our colonial past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-gandhi/our-task-today-is-to-bring-india-to-the-threshold-of-the-twenty-first/) [Rajiv Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-gandhi/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“Don't die without fulfilling your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-die-without-fulfilling-your-purpose/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Eschew evil and it's machinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/eschew-evil-and-it-s-machinations/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [ One of the great crimes of the Bloomberg/Klein administration \[in New York City\] is that they've removed themselves from communities, as if communities have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/one-of-the-great-crimes-of-the-bloomberg-klein-administration-in-new/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [You boys know what tropism is, it's what makes a plant grow toward the light. Everything aspires to the light. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/you-boys-know-what-tropism-is-it-s-what-makes-a-plant-grow-toward-the/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [The world of rumor and gossip is like a privileged world with which a social scientist or an anthropologist can take the temperature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-scott/the-world-of-rumor-and-gossip-is-like-a-privileged-world-with-which-a/) [James C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-scott/) > [“Don't let any situation intimidate you anymore, don't accept defeat anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-let-any-situation-intimidate-you-anymore-don-t-accept-defeat/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [The most important part of our lives-our sensations, emotions, desires, and aspirations-takes place in a universe of illusions which science can attenuate or destroy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-most-important-part-of-our-lives-our-sensations-emotions-desires/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) [Browse all 1,137 Aspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of expectations. Because I represent the aspirations of women all over Africa, I must succeed for them. I must keep the door open for women's participation in politics at the highest level. That is both humbling and exciting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Johnson Sirleaf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically-elected-woman-president-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically-elected-woman-president-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/ellen-johnson-sirleaf-13797_aspiration_of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically_2067557.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of…” — Ellen Johnson Sirleaf", "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": "Ellen Johnson Sirleaf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Of course, I am the first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically-elected-woman-president-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/of-course-i-am-the-first-democratically-elected-woman-president-in/#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 } } ] } ```