Marian Wright Edelman Quotes

When you break glass ceilings, you're going to get minor scrapes by a shard or two from the glass.

In our society, the women who break down barriers are those who ignore limits.

Basically, all my life I'd been told you can't do that because you're female. So I guess I just didn't pay any attention. I just went ahead and did what I could and then, when the stars aligned, I was ready.

In every single culture I encountered, there were always women who defied cultural norms to do what they believed was right for them. This phenomenon has never been related to how rich, poor, successful or not successful the woman may be.

Growing up, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be. There were no limitations restraining me just because I was a girl. Then I joined the military.

We really broke down some doors for women and for musicians in general. It was just go out and form a band and don't care what anyone thinks.

If wanted to play a sport, I played a sport. If I wanted to do things that many girls born in 1950 didn't do, I did it.

Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.

I had very supportive parents that made the way for me, even at a time when there were very few women - no women, really; maybe two or three women - and very few, fewer than that, African-American women heading in this direction, so there were very few people to look up to. You just had to have faith.

If you're a woman, just make a freaking good movie. I don't believe in the women who say, 'It's too hard, I'm getting shot down.'

We need role models who are going to break the mold.

If there's specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.

My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, 'There's no such thing as 'can't.'

I'm living proof you can excel regardless of where you come from.

Whatever your fight, don't be ladylike.

Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.

Don't try to squeeze into a glass slipper. Instead, shatter the glass ceiling.

I'm just a genetic freak, but it has never stopped me from doing whatever I want to.

I hope that women know that they can and should try everything they're interested in - with the confidence that men have had.

There had never really been a female that was breaking down a swing. So when I'd walk into a clubhouse, I'd have to explain a little bit of who I was.

I feel liberated being around women who are liberated.

For inspiration, we still demand the rhetorical high notes. Clinton has hit them before, in her speech in Beijing as first lady when she said, 'Women's rights are human rights,' and in her 2008 concession speech, when she talked about the '18 million cracks' in the glass ceiling.

Women must follow their passion and dreams without fear.

There always will be stereotypes that women can't drive. When I hear the comments, it just makes me more determined to prove them wrong.

There were times when I was down and frustrated being in a male-dominated sport: you don't get the support. It affected me. Layne Beachley helped me beat that. That was the difference for me and helped get me through.