--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the important thing about my…" description: "\"I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.\" — San..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png" --- # I think the important thing about my appointment is not… ![“I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.” quote by Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png) > “I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.” [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Her gender is secondary to her role; she emphasizes that being a woman gives her a unique perspective in deciding cases. **In simple terms:** She highlights that identity informs, but does not dominate, judicial duty. Key Takeaway Judge with integrity, regardless of gender. Themes justice gender leadership representation law Mood inspirational empowering Type historical motivational When to use this quote - courtroom decisions - public speaking - legal education - policy debates Key Concepts feminism role model institutional change Questions to Reflect On - How can diverse backgrounds enrich legal reasoning? - What balance is needed between identity and impartiality? A Different Perspective Focus on gender can eclipse broader qualifications. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointment/) [Appointment Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointment-decide-5681694/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Decide Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-cases-3788018/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Thing Appointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-appointment-5681695/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Woman Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-decide-1181244/) ## Related quotes > [I decide cases from a neutral posture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-decide-cases-from-a-neutral-posture/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [The role of the judge is simply to decide cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/the-role-of-the-judge-is-simply-to-decide-cases/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [A woman must decide between a man who women like, and then have no security, or a man who women dont like, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/a-woman-must-decide-between-a-man-who-women-like-and-then-have-no/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The philosophy of being able as a woman to decide what you want and being unashamed about making it happen was new. Most successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/the-philosophy-of-being-able-as-a-woman-to-decide-what-you-want-and/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [I do not decide cases based on personal or policy preferences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/i-do-not-decide-cases-based-on-personal-or-policy-preferences/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [Were I confirmed as a judge, I would decide cases according to the rule of law beginning to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-coney-barrett/were-i-confirmed-as-a-judge-i-would-decide-cases-according-to-the/) [Amy Coney Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-coney-barrett/) > [After all, it's woman, who decide, if a man is desirable or undesirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/after-all-it-s-woman-who-decide-if-a-man-is-desirable-or-undesirable/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“I would be a thousand-thoughts woman. I would be a hundreds of books woman. I would be a million-word woman. And I would decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-kilpatrick/i-would-be-a-thousand-thoughts-woman-i-would-be-a-hundreds-of-books/) [Lynn Kilpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-kilpatrick/) > [“Death is a divine appointment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/death-is-a-divine-appointment/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/events-do-not-just-happen-but-arrive-by-appointment/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You do not deserve the level you are on or the lofty position that you have if simple agreed meetings/appointments, you cannot even comply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-sta-ana/you-do-not-deserve-the-level-you-are-on-or-the-lofty-position-that/) [Myron Sta Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-sta-ana/) > [“The first is one that I’ve been surprised to see many top performers independently arrive at: wake up at least 3+ hours before your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/the-first-is-one-that-i-ve-been-surprised-to-see-many-top-performers/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [Prayer is a specific divine appointment, an ordinance of Heaven, whereby God purposes to carry out His gracious designs on earth and to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-is-a-specific-divine-appointment-an-ordinance-of-heaven/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-saints-but-we-have-kept-our-appointment-how-many-people/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) ## More by Sandra Day O'Connor > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [I think I learned to appreciate and treasure each day, because you don't know how many you're going to be given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-think-i-learned-to-appreciate-and-treasure-each-day-because-you-don/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [I loved my husband very much, and it was heartbreaking to have him develop Alzheimer's disease, and to stand by and watch him decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-loved-my-husband-very-much-and-it-was-heartbreaking-to-have-him/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [My concerns through the years increased about the concerns of an independent judiciary and how we maintain it. Certainly in the states. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/my-concerns-through-the-years-increased-about-the-concerns-of-an/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The courts of this country should not be the places where resolution of disputes begins. They should be the places where the disputes end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-courts-of-this-country-should-not-be-the-places-where-resolution/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [Young women today often have very little appreciation for the real battles that took place to get women where they are today in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/young-women-today-often-have-very-little-appreciation-for-the-real/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [You have to answer the question, like it or not. And the questions deserve a valid legal response, even if the response isn't one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/you-have-to-answer-the-question-like-it-or-not-and-the-questions/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people. ... Public records are one portal through which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/a-fundamental-premise-of-american-democratic-theory-is-that/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [This chance will stand before you only once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/this-chance-will-stand-before-you-only-once/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [I care very much about women and their progress. I didn't go march in the streets, but when I was in the Arizona Legislature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-care-very-much-about-women-and-their-progress-i-didn-t-go-march-in/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [There was no hostility at the court when I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/there-was-no-hostility-at-the-court-when-i-arrived/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [And I went off to Stanford, I was pretty young and pretty naive. And I had a professor I really loved, who was himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/and-i-went-off-to-stanford-i-was-pretty-young-and-pretty-naive-and-i/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-really-expert-riders-of-horses-let-the-horse-know-immediately-who/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [It is true that as you have children, there are a good many months when you don't want to be working full-time. I agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/it-is-true-that-as-you-have-children-there-are-a-good-many-months/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The abortion cases produced an enormous amount of mail to my chambers, vastly more than to the other chambers, I am sure. I sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-abortion-cases-produced-an-enormous-amount-of-mail-to-my-chambers/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) [Explore all 124 Sandra Day O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## More Appointment quotes > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-saints-but-we-have-kept-our-appointment-how-many-people/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Prayer is a specific divine appointment, an ordinance of Heaven, whereby God purposes to carry out His gracious designs on earth and to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-is-a-specific-divine-appointment-an-ordinance-of-heaven/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [“The first is one that I’ve been surprised to see many top performers independently arrive at: wake up at least 3+ hours before your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/the-first-is-one-that-i-ve-been-surprised-to-see-many-top-performers/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [You do not deserve the level you are on or the lofty position that you have if simple agreed meetings/appointments, you cannot even comply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-sta-ana/you-do-not-deserve-the-level-you-are-on-or-the-lofty-position-that/) [Myron Sta Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-sta-ana/) > [Events do not just happen, but arrive by appointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/events-do-not-just-happen-but-arrive-by-appointment/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Death is a divine appointment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/death-is-a-divine-appointment/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [I find that when I have any appointment, even an afternoon one, it changes the whole quality of time. I feel overcharged. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-find-that-when-i-have-any-appointment-even-an-afternoon-one-it/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“Ballot papers do not define leaders. Leadership is defined by conviction, vision, passion and inspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-do-not-define-leaders-leadership-is-defined-by/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Contrary to popular opinion, leadership is not a reserved position for a particular group of people who were elected or appointed, ordained or enthroned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/contrary-to-popular-opinion-leadership-is-not-a-reserved-position-for/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Giiiirl," Benny said, fanning himself with the appointment book. "I'm as gay as Todrick's ballet shoes and even I have a semi from that."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-gadziala/giiiirl-benny-said-fanning-himself-with-the-appointment-book-i-m-as/) [Jessica Gadziala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-gadziala/) > [I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110, shot by a jealous husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/i-have-a-lifetime-appointment-and-i-intend-to-serve-it-i-expect-to/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [TV and appointment viewing is a thing of the past for the youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenaz-treasury/tv-and-appointment-viewing-is-a-thing-of-the-past-for-the-youth/) [Shenaz Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenaz-treasury/) > [Somewhere in the world is a doctor who is worse than all other doctors...and someone has an appointment with him in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/somewhere-in-the-world-is-a-doctor-who-is-worse-than-all-other/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“A young child is a leader to an elderly person once his purpose has a faithful, sincere and trustworthy influence on people. Leadership is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-young-child-is-a-leader-to-an-elderly-person-once-his-purpose-has-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) [Browse all 95 Appointment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appointment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a woman who will get to decide cases.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sandra Day O'Connor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-appointment-is-not-that-i-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appointment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-appointment-is-not-that-i-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c5/sandra-day-o-connor-3681_appointment_i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-app_723575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the important thing about my appointment is not that I will decide cases as a woman, but that I am a…” — Sandra Day O'Connor", "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": "Sandra Day O'Connor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the important thing about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-appointment-is-not-that-i-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-think-the-important-thing-about-my-appointment-is-not-that-i-will/#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 } } ] } ```