--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a trial lawyer when I was elected…" description: "\"I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.\" — Geraldine Ferraro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg" --- # I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress. ![“I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.” quote by Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg) > “I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.” [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She highlights her professional shift from law to legislative service, emphasizing experience and public duty. **In simple terms:** She moved from law to politics, using her legal background in Congress. Key Takeaway Leverage prior expertise in new roles. Themes career transition public service women in politics Mood determined inspirational Type political career. When to use this quote - running for office - policy making - advocacy - career change Key Concepts legal expertise legislative impact leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does legal training shape legislative decisions? - What challenges arise when switching professions? A Different Perspective Legal skills may not directly translate to political negotiation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggravation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggravation/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial/) [Trial lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial-lawyer/) [Trial lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trial-lawyers/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [The trial lawyer does what Socrates was executed for: making the worse argument appear the stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kaufman/the-trial-lawyer-does-what-socrates-was-executed-for-making-the-worse/) Irving Kaufman > [I was raised in Austin, Texas, around trial lawyers. My friend and I - we were 14 - would go and watch her father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-white/i-was-raised-in-austin-texas-around-trial-lawyers-my-friend-and-i-we/) [Julie White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-white/) > [ I have been shaped by the experiences of the people who are closest to me, by the things I've learned from \[my wife\] Martha,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-alito/i-have-been-shaped-by-the-experiences-of-the-people-who-are-closest/) [Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-alito/) > [Successful trial lawyers are like heat-seeking missiles carrying payloads of information prejudicial to their opponent's case, constantly looking for the chance to unload their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/successful-trial-lawyers-are-like-heat-seeking-missiles-carrying/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [And I've always felt comfortable certainly in a courtroom because you're just performing. And there was a time in my life when I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/and-i-ve-always-felt-comfortable-certainly-in-a-courtroom-because-you/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [Tort reform is important. We need to prevent trial lawyers from killing good jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/tort-reform-is-important-we-need-to-prevent-trial-lawyers-from/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Trial lawyers can sue people in the state of Missouri, and because of how broken the system is, if they win just one dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/trial-lawyers-can-sue-people-in-the-state-of-missouri-and-because-of/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [The only real lawyers are trial lawyers, and trial lawyers try cases to juries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-only-real-lawyers-are-trial-lawyers-and-trial-lawyers-try-cases/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-they-don-t-have-the-guts-to-come-up-here-in-front-of-you-and-say-i/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I think being called a she-devil by a trial lawyer is meant as a compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-think-being-called-a-she-devil-by-a-trial-lawyer-is-meant-as-a/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [We plan to pick up another five seats in the Senate and hold the House through redistricting through 2012. And rather than negotiate with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/we-plan-to-pick-up-another-five-seats-in-the-senate-and-hold-the/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Cagey trial lawyers have figured out there's a pretty good likelihood their case - no matter what its merit - will literally get its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/cagey-trial-lawyers-have-figured-out-there-s-a-pretty-good-likelihood/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [In recent years personal injury attorneys and trial lawyers have attacked the food industry with numerous lawsuits alleging that these businesses should pay monetary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/in-recent-years-personal-injury-attorneys-and-trial-lawyers-have/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [ I can assure the conspiracy theorists who have very effectively savaged \[Gerald\] Posner in their books that they're going to have a much, much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-bugliosi/i-can-assure-the-conspiracy-theorists-who-have-very-effectively/) [Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-bugliosi/) > [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) Buck McKeon ## More by Geraldine Ferraro > [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [You don't go through a bloodbath like this and then walk away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/you-don-t-go-through-a-bloodbath-like-this-and-then-walk-away-from-it/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Personal religious convictions have no place in political campaigns or in dictating public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/personal-religious-convictions-have-no-place-in-political-campaigns/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I am the first to admit that were I not a woman, I would not have been the vice-presidential nominee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-am-the-first-to-admit-that-were-i-not-a-woman-i-would-not-have-been/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [But I do think its necessary to have debates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/but-i-do-think-its-necessary-to-have-debates/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [And it was, it was not beating George Bush, believe it or not, the bottom line as far as I was concerned was introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/and-it-was-it-was-not-beating-george-bush-believe-it-or-not-the/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I have been extremely lucky; I am a person who is currently living with a cancer that is under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-have-been-extremely-lucky-i-am-a-person-who-is-currently-living/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I'd call it a new version of voodoo economics, but I'm afraid that would give witch doctors a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-d-call-it-a-new-version-of-voodoo-economics-but-i-m-afraid-that/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [A wise man once said, 'Every one of us is given the gift of life, and what a strange gift it is. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/a-wise-man-once-said-every-one-of-us-is-given-the-gift-of-life-and/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I don't consider myself a survivor; that's someone who has gone through something terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-survivor-that-s-someone-who-has-gone/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [We've chosen the path to equality, don't let them turn us around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/we-ve-chosen-the-path-to-equality-don-t-let-them-turn-us-around/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [See that's a goal that I think it's very good in the debate to find out who the person is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/see-that-s-a-goal-that-i-think-it-s-very-good-in-the-debate-to-find/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Every time a woman runs, women win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/every-time-a-woman-runs-women-win/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/if-obama-was-a-white-man-he-would-not-be-in-this-position-and-if-he/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Well of course Bush got Kentucky, because it's a Republican city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/well-of-course-bush-got-kentucky-because-it-s-a-republican-city/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) [Explore all 68 Geraldine Ferraro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) ## More Aggravation quotes > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [I really never felt any tremendous aggravation or separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-really-never-felt-any-tremendous-aggravation-or-separation/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [It is time to end the discrimination against people who need treatment for chemical addiction. It is time for Congress to deal with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ramstad/it-is-time-to-end-the-discrimination-against-people-who-need/) [Jim Ramstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ramstad/) > [Mothers ... would do anything to steer their daughter the right way. It is frustrating beyond measure for them when a daughter screams, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-flanagan/mothers-would-do-anything-to-steer-their-daughter-the-right-way-it-is/) [Caitlin Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-flanagan/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Nobody wanted to touch Decline III when they found out what it was about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-spheeris/nobody-wanted-to-touch-decline-iii-when-they-found-out-what-it-was/) [Penelope Spheeris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-spheeris/) > [I consider my mom and all my sisters my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-vega/i-consider-my-mom-and-all-my-sisters-my-friends/) [Alexa Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-vega/) > [Well, for starters, we have to do more to create demand for new technologies that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-boehlert/well-for-starters-we-have-to-do-more-to-create-demand-for-new/) [Sherwood Boehlert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-boehlert/) > [By failing to keep their end of the bargain, the Bush administration would allow New Jersey projects to deteriorate and make New Jersey highways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/by-failing-to-keep-their-end-of-the-bargain-the-bush-administration/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [The first Decline I did was out of sheer love and appreciation for the music. In 1977, it was more about bands, because punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-spheeris/the-first-decline-i-did-was-out-of-sheer-love-and-appreciation-for/) [Penelope Spheeris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-spheeris/) > [ON the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after Christ, the countries of Northern Europe were left almost destitute of a national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bulfinch/on-the-decline-of-the-roman-power-about-five-centuries-after-christ/) [Thomas Bulfinch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bulfinch/) > [“He is being nibbled to death by ducks. --More Later, Less the Same”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tate/he-is-being-nibbled-to-death-by-ducks-more-later-less-the-same/) [James Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tate/) > [I suspect the psychological pressure associated with that crisis caused the first mental blackout I had ever suffered. It contributed to a deterioration in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamisese-mara/i-suspect-the-psychological-pressure-associated-with-that-crisis/) [Kamisese Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamisese-mara/) > [So if waiting is an aggravation, it is at least partly because we do not like being reminded of our limits. We like doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/so-if-waiting-is-an-aggravation-it-is-at-least-partly-because-we-do/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [What you feel spiritually. I think a lot of that has to do with it. If you have no spiritual life, chances are everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ditka/what-you-feel-spiritually-i-think-a-lot-of-that-has-to-do-with-it-if/) [Mike Ditka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ditka/) [Browse all 144 Aggravation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggravation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geraldine Ferraro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected-to-congress/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggravation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected-to-congress/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/200/geraldine-ferraro-10050_aggravation_i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected_1396456.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was a trial lawyer when I was elected to Congress.” — Geraldine Ferraro", "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": "Geraldine Ferraro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was a trial lawyer when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected-to-congress/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-was-a-trial-lawyer-when-i-was-elected-to-congress/#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 } } ] } ```