--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did it as first lady, I did it as a…" description: "\"I did it as first lady, I did it as a senator, I did it as secretary of state, and I know how hard it is. It's not something you do once or twice and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/hillary-clinton-51_agree_i-did-it-as-first-lady-i-did-it-as-a-sen_473164.jpg" --- # I did it as first lady, I did it as a senator, I did it as… ![“I did it as first lady, I did it as a senator, I did it as secretary of state, and I know how hard it is. It's not something you do once or twice and then throw your hands up because it is grinding work. But it is necessary work. So I am really welcoming of the opportunity to meet with not only…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/hillary-clinton-51_agree_i-did-it-as-first-lady-i-did-it-as-a-sen_473164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/hillary-clinton-51_agree_i-did-it-as-first-lady-i-did-it-as-a-sen_473164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/hillary-clinton-51_agree_i-did-it-as-first-lady-i-did-it-as-a-sen_473164.jpg) > “I did it as first lady, I did it as a senator, I did it as secretary of state, and I know how hard it is. It's not something you do once or twice and then throw your hands up because it is grinding work. But it is necessary work. So I am really welcoming of the opportunity to meet with not only people who agree with me but those who don't to see what we can do to try to bridge the differences.” [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges that high‑level public service is demanding and requires dialogue with both supporters and opponents to bridge divides. **In simple terms:** Hard work and open dialogue are essential. Key Takeaway Engage across differences. Themes leadership service polarization Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government - community organizing - international diplomacy Key Concepts policy making bipartisanship public service Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to foster constructive conversation? - How do you sustain effort amid criticism? A Different Perspective Bridging gaps can be slow and face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [First lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-lady/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hands up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-up/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-agree/) [Really Welcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-welcoming-3301947/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Senator Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senator-did-639343/) [Senators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senators/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome/) [Welcoming Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcoming-opportunity-4085343/) [Work Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-necessary-481222/) ## Related quotes > [I love living in the country, so much so that I'm even surprised by it. 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Are there any bills or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/mccarthy-had-ten-years-in-the-house-of-representatives-only-two-terms/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [If I desired to kill the senator why did I not do it? You all admit that I had him in my power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-brooks/if-i-desired-to-kill-the-senator-why-did-i-not-do-it-you-all-admit/) [Preston Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-brooks/) > [In science it is not enough to think of an important problem on which to work. It is also necessary to know the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/in-science-it-is-not-enough-to-think-of-an-important-problem-on-which/) [Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/) > [Work is necessary; it can be nothing less than a passion; a person is happy in accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/work-is-necessary-it-can-be-nothing-less-than-a-passion-a-person-is/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Deep work is necessary to wring every last drop of value out of your”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/deep-work-is-necessary-to-wring-every-last-drop-of-value-out-of-your/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Everyone wants to be strong and self sufficient, but few are willing to put in the work necessary to achieve worthy goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/everyone-wants-to-be-strong-and-self-sufficient-but-few-are-willing/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“But is work something we have a right to escape? And can we escape it with impunity? We are probably the first entire people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/but-is-work-something-we-have-a-right-to-escape-and-can-we-escape-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [ \[All the ancient wisdom\] tells us that work is necessary to us, as much a part of our condition as mortality; that good work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/all-the-ancient-wisdom-tells-us-that-work-is-necessary-to-us-as-much/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“There’s a common misconception that work is necessary. You will meet people working at miserable jobs. They tell you they are “making a living”.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tan/there-s-a-common-misconception-that-work-is-necessary-you-will-meet/) [Adrian Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tan/) > [I saw what it means to work every weekend and every night, and I realized it doesn't work for me. It's not necessary. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-zucchelli/i-saw-what-it-means-to-work-every-weekend-and-every-night-and-i/) [Italo Zucchelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-zucchelli/) > [All work which is necessary ennobles him who performs it. Only one thing is shameful - to contribute nothing to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/all-work-which-is-necessary-ennobles-him-who-performs-it-only-one/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Work was always necessary to survive. Then I decided the goal should be to survive without working. But now I have much more work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-cattelan/work-was-always-necessary-to-survive-then-i-decided-the-goal-should/) [Maurizio Cattelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-cattelan/) ## More by Hillary Clinton > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. We have to take a look at the incentives that we can perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-have-to-take-a-look-at-corporate-law-we-have-to-take-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We now have power under the Dodd-Frank legislation to break up banks. And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Explore all 1,911 Hillary Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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