--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing has not changed: to doubt the…" description: "\"One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students' achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/sonia-sotomayor-1504_achievement_one-thing-has-not-changed-to-doubt-the-w_306139.png" --- # One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority… ![“One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students' achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance to even try. It is the same prejudice that insists all those destined for success must be cast from the same mold…” quote by Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/sonia-sotomayor-1504_achievement_one-thing-has-not-changed-to-doubt-the-w_306139.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/sonia-sotomayor-1504_achievement_one-thing-has-not-changed-to-doubt-the-w_306139.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/sonia-sotomayor-1504_achievement_one-thing-has-not-changed-to-doubt-the-w_306139.png) > “One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students' achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance to even try. It is the same prejudice that insists all those destined for success must be cast from the same mold as those who have succeeded before them, a view that experience has already proven a fallacy.” [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. Prejudice undermines minority achievement by questioning success and forcing conformity, denying opportunities to try. **In simple terms:** Prejudice doubts minority success and forces sameness. Key Takeaway Challenge bias, support diverse paths. Themes equality education prejudice achievement diversity Mood determined hopeful critical Type advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - college admissions - workplace promotions - scholarship awards - community mentorship Key Concepts Social bias systemic inequality stereotype threat Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions redesign criteria to recognize diverse achievements? - What personal actions can reduce bias in everyday decisions? A Different Perspective Prejudice can be subtle and internalized, making it hard to confront directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Affirmative action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative-action/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fallacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallacy/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Student achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-achievement/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Looking out at that crowd, I imagined those who had not yet arrived, minority students who, in years to come, would make this multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/looking-out-at-that-crowd-i-imagined-those-who-had-not-yet-arrived/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I think, overall, there is a lack of diversity in the arts. I'm thinking about when I was in grad school: I could probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-c-moore/i-think-overall-there-is-a-lack-of-diversity-in-the-arts-i-m-thinking/) [Adrienne C. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-c-moore/) > [The 'safe spaces' for minority students on university campuses are actually redemptive spaces for white students and administrators looking for innocence and empowerment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/the-safe-spaces-for-minority-students-on-university-campuses-are/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“Does affirmative action place minority students in colleges where they're likely to fail while depriving other applicants of the chance to attend the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-voegeli/does-affirmative-action-place-minority-students-in-colleges-where/) William Voegeli > [“Like mismatched minority students, mismatched minority faculty have sought refuge in non-intellectual pursuits, such as community activities and campus political activism, in denunciations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/like-mismatched-minority-students-mismatched-minority-faculty-have/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Whenever judges of the highest state courts have actually examined the details of the "savage inequalities" that continue to be imposed on most low-income…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-rebell/whenever-judges-of-the-highest-state-courts-have-actually-examined/) Michael A. Rebell > [“What Lempert is saying is that by the only measure that a law school really ought to care about — how well its graduates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/what-lempert-is-saying-is-that-by-the-only-measure-that-a-law-school/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Yeah, I would go to New England Conservatory a lot. My orchestra teacher ran a program for minority students there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-olusola/yeah-i-would-go-to-new-england-conservatory-a-lot-my-orchestra/) [Kevin Olusola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-olusola/) > [I think the minority students that we admit to Harvard are every bit as meritorious as the white students that we admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-the-minority-students-that-we-admit-to-harvard-are-every-bit/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [“Currently, “minority” students represent a majority in all but two of our twenty-five largest cities, and by some estimates, the turn of the century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/currently-minority-students-represent-a-majority-in-all-but-two-of/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [“It would be impossible to understand the persistence and vehemence of these arguments against test scores without understanding the political purpose they serve. Arguments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/it-would-be-impossible-to-understand-the-persistence-and-vehemence-of/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making college more affordable for all and more accessible for minority students, the first new higher education authorizing legislation in a decade will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/by-making-college-more-affordable-for-all-and-more-accessible-for/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Increasing postsecondary enrollment and success, particularly among first-generation, low-income, and minority students, is good for students and our state's economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/increasing-postsecondary-enrollment-and-success-particularly-among/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [One of the best indicators of student achievement is the academic success of the mother in the home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/one-of-the-best-indicators-of-student-achievement-is-the-academic/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [Creating a high-functioning education system requires all the strategies involved in building high-functioning organisations anywhere. It requires a deliberate and aggressive strategy to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kopp/creating-a-high-functioning-education-system-requires-all-the/) [Wendy Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kopp/) ## 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 Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students' achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance to even try. 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