Claire Messud Quotes

If you're a man and you ask questions, you're a genius; if you're a woman, you're difficult.

Once again, no one in charge had given any thought to the possibility that a woman would be involved.

The much vaunted male logic isn't logical, because they display prejudices against half the human race that are considered prejudices according to any dictionary definition.

If a woman gets tough in negotiations, she's difficult, whereas a man would be considered a brilliant businessman.

Men treat men differently than they would a woman.

When women do take on traditionally male subjects, certain male colleagues can seem affronted that a woman has dared to trespass on their subject. I could given you dozens of examples, but here's one: Max Hastings's review in the 'Sunday Times' in 2009 of Miranda Carter's book 'The Three Emperors'.

When a woman stands up and is strong and commanding, she's called bossy. When a man does the same thing, people say, 'They're strong.'

I really feel like females have to go 50 extra miles. Not just one - 50 extra miles to be accepted or taken seriously.

Women have to compensate more in the personality department in order to get the things that men get. And they don't have as much leeway for being divas or jerks.

People put stock in someone being in a 'girl group,' but we don't say that a band is a 'man group.'

For centuries the leaders of Christian thought spoke of women as a necessary evil, and the greatest saints of the Church are those who despise women the most.

Stupid as a man, say the women: cowardly as a woman, say the men. Stupidity in a woman is unwomanly.

We call our little girls bossy. Go to a playground; little girls get called bossy all the time - a word that's almost never used for boys - and that leads directly to the problems women face in the workforce.

I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.

I think where men are credited for being strong, women are divas. I just think it's such a cop out.

'Men don't cry!' 'Women can't handle money!' What limiting ideas to live with.

When women criticized men, I called it 'insight'... When men criticized women, I called it 'sexism' and 'backlash.'

There are still people who have an issue working with a woman director. Women can be viewed as 'difficult' even though they work in the same way as men.

If a man belittles a woman, it could become a lawsuit. If women belittle men, it's a Hallmark card.

A woman who places a high priority on performance and excellence is seen as imperial. A man is seen as demanding and tough.

I'd like to get to the point where I can be just as mediocre as a man.

Why are women always described as 'desperate,' while men are just... irrational?

I used to be very interested in the history of women's rights in this country and in other countries. I tried to learn as much as I could about it, and more than anything, I would be called gay. It was phenomenal. But if a boy has something to say, he is appreciated; he's even popular. If a girl says something, it's instantly a threat.

I really hate having to put 'female' in front of any title, because it puts us in some kind of weird category for handicapped people or something.

I've always been sure of my vision, but I've been in meetings where men have been talking about me like I'm not there... I've been told I should be a certain way, and I wondered if that would have been the case if I was a man.