--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had no need to apologize that the…" description: "\"I had no need to apologize that the look-wider, search-more affirmative action that Princeton and Yale practiced had opened doors for me. That was its ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/sonia-sotomayor-1504_action_i-had-no-need-to-apologize-that-the-look_1122456.png" --- # I had no need to apologize that the look-wider… ![“I had no need to apologize that the look-wider, search-more affirmative action that Princeton and Yale practiced had opened doors for me. That was its purpose: to create the conditions whereby students from disadvantaged backgrounds could be brought to the starting line of a race many were unaware…” quote by Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/sonia-sotomayor-1504_action_i-had-no-need-to-apologize-that-the-look_1122456.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/sonia-sotomayor-1504_action_i-had-no-need-to-apologize-that-the-look_1122456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/sonia-sotomayor-1504_action_i-had-no-need-to-apologize-that-the-look_1122456.png) > “I had no need to apologize that the look-wider, search-more affirmative action that Princeton and Yale practiced had opened doors for me. That was its purpose: to create the conditions whereby students from disadvantaged backgrounds could be brought to the starting line of a race many were unaware was even being run.” [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Affirmative action aims to level the playing field by giving disadvantaged students access to opportunities they otherwise lack. **In simple terms:** Affirmative action creates fair chances for underprivileged students. Key Takeaway Support policies that promote equal opportunity. Themes equality education social justice Mood hopeful determined reflective Type political legal inspirational When to use this quote - college admissions - career advancement - scholarship applications - diversity initiatives Key Concepts affirmative action access systemic inequality Questions to Reflect On - How does affirmative action affect meritocracy? - What alternative methods could achieve similar equity? A Different Perspective Critics argue it may lead to reverse discrimination or lower standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [Students from disadvantaged backgrounds will have the most debt, and then, being less likely than their affluent peers to go straight into high paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/students-from-disadvantaged-backgrounds-will-have-the-most-debt-and/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) > [Every authentic artist is engaged in this creating of the conscience of the race, even though he or she may be unaware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/every-authentic-artist-is-engaged-in-this-creating-of-the-conscience/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [As a young black immigrant at an inner-city school, I saw how poverty of ambition left many from disadvantaged backgrounds on the scrap-heap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/as-a-young-black-immigrant-at-an-inner-city-school-i-saw-how-poverty/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [Being an actor opened doors for me to explore my emotions as different people and characters, and expand my own inner soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/being-an-actor-opened-doors-for-me-to-explore-my-emotions-as/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [I opened the doors of my heart. And behold, There was music within and a song, And echoes did feed on the sweetness, repeating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ingelow/i-opened-the-doors-of-my-heart-and-behold-there-was-music-within-and/) [Jean Ingelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ingelow/) > [My life now centered around sleepless nights and stand-bys, dodging the Brits and calming nerves to go out on operations. But the people stood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-sands/my-life-now-centered-around-sleepless-nights-and-stand-bys-dodging/) [Bobby Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-sands/) > [I want to thank the pioneering women who years ago opened the doors of politics in Costa Rica. My government will be open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-chinchilla/i-want-to-thank-the-pioneering-women-who-years-ago-opened-the-doors/) [Laura Chinchilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-chinchilla/) > [I've always defended Shania. She not only opened doors; she knocked several down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-ve-always-defended-shania-she-not-only-opened-doors-she-knocked/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [“Corporation opened its doors in Mountain View, California. Four years later, Mosaic”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-cusumano/corporation-opened-its-doors-in-mountain-view-california-four-years/) Michael A. Cusumano > [Trixie Mattel has always opened doors for me. It's closed very few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/trixie-mattel-has-always-opened-doors-for-me-it-s-closed-very-few/) [Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/) > [I was the first in my family to go to college, and so, growing up, I thought that dressing well opened doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-abboud/i-was-the-first-in-my-family-to-go-to-college-and-so-growing-up-i/) [Joseph Abboud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-abboud/) > [It was kind of Saoirse Ronan who really paved the way - she's the youngest of us all, but she did. She paved the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-greene/it-was-kind-of-saoirse-ronan-who-really-paved-the-way-she-s-the/) [Sarah Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-greene/) > [I was young and ambitious and had the gift of dancing. I tried out for different things and the gift opened doors for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonlock/i-was-young-and-ambitious-and-had-the-gift-of-dancing-i-tried-out-for/) [Shonlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonlock/) > [To try something longer, I entered a half-hour radio drama contest with the national public broadcaster, CBC. To my surprise, I won. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/to-try-something-longer-i-entered-a-half-hour-radio-drama-contest/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [Obama, he wouldn't have been in office without what happened to me and a lot of black people before me. He would never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-king/obama-he-wouldn-t-have-been-in-office-without-what-happened-to-me-and/) [Rodney King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-king/) ## More by Sonia Sotomayor > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-have-never-had-to-face-anything-that-could-overwhelm-the-native/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [The task of a judge is not to make the law - it is to apply the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/the-task-of-a-judge-is-not-to-make-the-law-it-is-to-apply-the-law/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I got a message from one of my friends in Puerto Rico, who said, 'Sonia, there's nobody working in Puerto Rico - they're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-got-a-message-from-one-of-my-friends-in-puerto-rico-who-said-sonia/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [In the wider context, what I believe I was - the point I was making was that our life experiences do permit us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/in-the-wider-context-what-i-believe-i-was-the-point-i-was-making-was/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-have-spent-my-years-since-princeton-while-at-law-school-and-in-my/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [The first case I sat on... was Citizens United. Talk about being thrown in. Needless to say, if I was scared before, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/the-first-case-i-sat-on-was-citizens-united-talk-about-being-thrown/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Over the years, I have gathered more godchildren than anyone I know, and I take the role seriously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/over-the-years-i-have-gathered-more-godchildren-than-anyone-i-know/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [ I am growing to love DC.This \[Washington\] is a beautiful city. I think every citizen should come see their capital. A lot of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-am-growing-to-love-dc-this-washington-is-a-beautiful-city-i-think/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“I think that even someone who got into an institution through affirmative action could prove they were qualified by what they accomplished there. Page 188”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-think-that-even-someone-who-got-into-an-institution-through/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [You make your life choices understanding that you might and do have to work harder to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/you-make-your-life-choices-understanding-that-you-might-and-do-have/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“The persistence or failure of human relationships cannot be predicted by any set of objective or universal criteria. We are all limited, highly imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/the-persistence-or-failure-of-human-relationships-cannot-be-predicted/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I have ventured to write more intimately about my personal life than is customary for a member of the Supreme Court, and with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-have-ventured-to-write-more-intimately-about-my-personal-life-than/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [With my academic achievement in high school, I was accepted rather readily at Princeton and equally as fast at Yale, but my test scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/with-my-academic-achievement-in-high-school-i-was-accepted-rather/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-wealth-of-experiences-personal-and-professional-have-helped-me/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) [Explore all 234 Sonia Sotomayor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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