--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One only has to read interviews with…" description: "\"“One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to hear them apologizing”\" — Monique Wittig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg" --- # One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to… ![“One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to hear them apologizing” quote by Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg) > ““One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to hear them apologizing”” [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading interviews with distinguished women often reveals they apologize for their success. **In simple terms:** Successful women tend to downplay achievements. Key Takeaway Challenge the norm of self‑apology among accomplished women. Themes gender success social expectations self‑perception Mood analytical inspirational Type critical feminist When to use this quote - career mentorship - public speaking - media training Key Concepts feminist theory media representation psychology of achievement Questions to Reflect On - Why do women feel compelled to apologize? - How can we foster confidence in female voices? A Different Perspective Self‑apology can undermine empowerment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Erasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erasure/) [Femininity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/femininity/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Great women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-women/) [Hear Apologizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-apologizing-2502122/) [Interviews Outstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviews-outstanding-5689599/) [Invisibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisibility/) [Outstanding Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding-women-2815513/) [Read Interviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-interviews-492295/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) [Social-conditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-conditioning/) [Women Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-hear-1301617/) ## Related quotes > [“I edit myself into a boldness that is neither native or foreign to me. At times I grow tired of this approach, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/i-edit-myself-into-a-boldness-that-is-neither-native-or-foreign-to-me/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [There were so many outstanding women in scripture that were leaders. And, you know, the organized church sometimes puts boundaries on us that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/there-were-so-many-outstanding-women-in-scripture-that-were-leaders/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [When women hear each other's stories, told from the heart, it gives us inspiration to keep on going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/when-women-hear-each-other-s-stories-told-from-the-heart-it-gives-us/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [I am not handsome, but when women hear me play, they come crawling to my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-paganini/i-am-not-handsome-but-when-women-hear-me-play-they-come-crawling-to/) [Niccolo Paganini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-paganini/) > [“I so want to meet the other women. I hear their voices, their weeping. Maybe they can explain to me why we're here. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-kane/i-so-want-to-meet-the-other-women-i-hear-their-voices-their-weeping/) [Andrea Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-kane/) > [Women hear rhythm differently than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/women-hear-rhythm-differently-than-men/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“She had, she declared, "no patience with women whom I hear telling what wonders they would do if they were only men, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gilpin-faust/she-had-she-declared-no-patience-with-women-whom-i-hear-telling-what/) [Drew Gilpin Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gilpin-faust/) > [Growing up in my household with seven women, I'd hear all types of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flo-rida/growing-up-in-my-household-with-seven-women-i-d-hear-all-types-of/) [Flo Rida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flo-rida/) > [“The things you read will fashion you by slowly conditioning your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/the-things-you-read-will-fashion-you-by-slowly-conditioning-your-mind/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [“You have been feeling the way your society programmed you to feel. You have been thinking the way your society programmed you to think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-have-been-feeling-the-way-your-society-programmed-you-to-feel-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Let the light shine bright, dim it not to suit the prisoners! Does the sun come with a dimmer, because its radiance dimwits cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/let-the-light-shine-bright-dim-it-not-to-suit-the-prisoners-does-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“An act of unconscious discrimination that is the result of social conditioning is still intentional if not conscious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-arpin-ricci/an-act-of-unconscious-discrimination-that-is-the-result-of-social/) [Jamie Arpin-Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-arpin-ricci/) > [“Among the difficult things to suppress in the mind is the absolute truths of life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/among-the-difficult-things-to-suppress-in-the-mind-is-the-absolute/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [“The worst thing about social conditioning is that it makes an individual of that society genuinely believe that he or she is being moral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-worst-thing-about-social-conditioning-is-that-it-makes-an/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“They say, dead men tell no tale, and yet, we live our lives based on dead men's tale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/they-say-dead-men-tell-no-tale-and-yet-we-live-our-lives-based-on/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Monique Wittig > [Remember. Or, failing that, invent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/remember-or-failing-that-invent/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [It is quite possible for a work of literature to operate as a war machine upon its epoch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/it-is-quite-possible-for-a-work-of-literature-to-operate-as-a-war/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [“The women say that they could not eat hare veal or fowl, they say that they could not eat animals, but man, yes, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/the-women-say-that-they-could-not-eat-hare-veal-or-fowl-they-say-that/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [The basic agreement between human beings, indeed what makes them human and makes them social, is language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/the-basic-agreement-between-human-beings-indeed-what-makes-them-human/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [... I am with fire between my teeth and still nothing but my blank page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/i-am-with-fire-between-my-teeth-and-still-nothing-but-my-blank-page/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [They say that oppression engenders hate. They are heard on all sides crying hate hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/they-say-that-oppression-engenders-hate-they-are-heard-on-all-sides/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [The class struggle is precisely that which resolves the contradictions between two opposed classes by abolishing them at the same time that it constitutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/the-class-struggle-is-precisely-that-which-resolves-the/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [Language casts sheaves of reality upon the social body, stamping it and violently shaping it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/language-casts-sheaves-of-reality-upon-the-social-body-stamping-it/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [“Despite all the evils they wished to crush me with/ I remain as steady as the three-legged cauldron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/despite-all-the-evils-they-wished-to-crush-me-with-i-remain-as-steady/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [The dictionary is, however, only a rough draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/the-dictionary-is-however-only-a-rough-draft/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [Today, together, let us repeat as our slogan that all trace of violence must disappear from this earth, then the sun will be honey-colored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/today-together-let-us-repeat-as-our-slogan-that-all-trace-of-violence/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [“There was a time when you were not a slave, remember that. You walked alone, full of laughter, you bathed bare-bellied. You say you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/there-was-a-time-when-you-were-not-a-slave-remember-that-you-walked/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [For there is no sex. There is but sex that is oppressed and sex that oppresses. It is oppression that creates sex and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/for-there-is-no-sex-there-is-but-sex-that-is-oppressed-and-sex-that/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [I feel a near passion for intelligence at grips with itself and not letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/i-feel-a-near-passion-for-intelligence-at-grips-with-itself-and-not/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) > [It is oppression that creates sex and not the contrary. The contrary would be to say that sex creates oppression, or to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/it-is-oppression-that-creates-sex-and-not-the-contrary-the-contrary/) [Monique Wittig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) [Explore all 29 Monique Wittig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/) ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to hear them apologizing”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Monique Wittig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-outstanding-women-to-hear-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-outstanding-women-to-hear-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/monique-wittig-21336_apology_one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-out_2345213.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One only has to read interviews with outstanding women to hear them apologizing” — Monique Wittig", "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": "Monique Wittig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-wittig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One only has to read interviews...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-outstanding-women-to-hear-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-wittig/one-only-has-to-read-interviews-with-outstanding-women-to-hear-them/#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 } } ] } ```