Being smart Quote by Kirsten Gillibrand
“If I had a daughter, I would tell her certain things. I would tell her that it’s great to be smart, really smart - that being smart makes you strong. I would tell her that emotions are powerful, so don’t be afraid to show them. I would tell her that some people may judge you on how you look or what you wear - that’s just how it is - but you should keep your focus on what you say and do. I would tell her that she may see the world differently from boys, and that difference is essential and good.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, Kirsten Gillibrand, 2023
Encourages women to value intelligence, emotional honesty, resilience against judgment, and embrace gendered perspectives as strengths.
In simple terms: Be smart, expressive, resilient, and proud of differences.
Key Takeaway
Embrace intelligence and emotion, ignore superficial judgments.
Themes
empowerment
gender
self‑esteem
resilience
diversity
Mood
inspirational
determined
hopeful
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advice
- personal development
- public speaking
- mentoring
- advocacy
Key Concepts
intersectionality
confidence
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you support women facing bias?
- What role does emotional honesty play in leadership?
A Different Perspective
May overlook systemic barriers that limit opportunities for some women.
![“One of the things that Claire [ McCaskill] and I are trying to do is put systems on campus in place so that a survivor knows who to talk to - that there's somebody who's an expert on their campus that will know all their options from day one and really empower them to make their own decision about…” quote by Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fab/kirsten-gillibrand-3719_campus_one-of-the-things-that-claire-mccaskill_108667.jpg)
