Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020), an American legal pioneer and Supreme Court Justice. This comprehensive biography covers her early years, legal advocacy, jurisprudence, influence, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg (born March 15, 1933 – died September 18, 2020) was a towering figure in American law, civil rights, and the fight for gender equality. She served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1993 until her death.

Often called “the Notorious R.B.G.” in popular culture, Ginsburg’s legacy extends far beyond her judicial opinions—she reshaped legal understanding of gender discrimination, mentored generations of lawyers, and inspired social movements.

Early Life and Education

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born as Joan Ruth Bader in Brooklyn, New York City, into a Jewish family.

She had an older sister, Marilyn, who died of meningitis when Ruth was a baby. At school, since many girls were named “Joan,” her mother suggested calling her “Ruth,” which stuck.

From a young age, she was intellectually ambitious and academically gifted. After high school, she enrolled at Cornell University, where she met Martin D. Ginsburg (her future husband). Harvard Law School, transferring to Columbia Law School, where she earned her LL.B. (law degree) tied for first in her class.

Despite top grades, she faced obstacles: many law firms at the time refused to hire women.

Legal Career & Advocacy

Early Legal and Academic Work

Ginsburg began her legal career in academia and research. From 1961 to 1963, she worked on a procedural law project at Columbia. During that period, she learned Swedish to co-author a work on civil procedure in Sweden. Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School, becoming one of the few women on the faculty and eventually the first female tenured professor at Columbia Law.

ACLU Women’s Rights Project

In 1972, Ginsburg co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She became its general counsel in 1973.

Her strategy in litigation was careful and incremental. She brought equal protection cases focusing on gender discrimination step by step, rather than all at once, and selected plaintiffs (including men in some cases) to show how gender-based laws harmed both sexes. Between 1973 and 1976, she argued six gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court and won five of them.

Ginsburg also advocated for careful use of the term “gender” (instead of “sex”) in legal arguments to avoid distracting the courts with unrelated connotations.

Judicial Career

U.S. Court of Appeals

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter nominated Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She was confirmed and served there until 1993.

Her tenure on the appellate bench further built her reputation as a moderate jurist who valued consensus and clarity.

U.S. Supreme Court (1993–2020)

President Bill Clinton nominated her to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993; she took the oath on August 10 of that year.

During her time on the Court, she authored numerous majority opinions, concurrences, and powerful dissents. She became especially well-known for her dissenting opinions—often invoking strong reasoning, moral clarity, and a view toward future generations.

One of her most famous dissents was in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), where she argued against weakening key provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Her dissent in Hobby Lobby was another well-known instance, criticizing the majority opinion for expanding religious exemptions at the expense of rights of others.

Her strong dissents and reputation for perseverance contributed to her symbolic stature as a defender of justice and equality.

Personal Life & Challenges

Ruth Ginsburg married Martin D. Ginsburg shortly after graduating from Cornell. Their partnership is often held up as an example of mutual respect and support.

When their daughter was born and Martin was diagnosed with cancer, Ginsburg balanced rigorous academic work, caretaking, and law studies—often taking notes for both herself and her husband.

Ginsburg faced serious health battles during her life. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999, among multiple cervical, pancreatic, and lung cancer episodes. Despite treatment, she continued her judicial duties.

She passed away on September 18, 2020, in Washington, D.C.

Legacy and Influence

• Gender equality law: Ginsburg’s advocacy reshaped how courts, legislatures, and society view sex-based discrimination.

• Judicial philosophy: Her dissents and opinions stretch beyond her era, often appealing to future generations.

• Cultural icon: She became a pop-culture symbol of resilience, intellectual rigor, and principled dissent. The moniker “Notorious R.B.G.” captured her status as both serious jurist and cultural emblem.

• Mentorship & inspiration: Many lawyers, judges, and legal scholars cite her as a role model—particularly women and those pursuing civil rights law.

• Posthumous honors: Her writings were published (e.g. My Own Words in 2016) and her memory lives in exhibitions, books, films, courts named in her honor, and continued discourse on gender equality.

Famous Quotes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Below are some of her most memorable and oft-cited quotes, reflecting her wit, conviction, and vision:

“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” “You can disagree without being disagreeable.” “Dissents speak to a future age.” “I am a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.” “The people who are hardest to love need it the most.” (Attributed, appears in some RBG quote compilations) “Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

These quotes reflect recurring themes in her life: dignity, justice, steady advocacy, listening, and bridging principle with persuasion.

Lessons from Ruth Bader Ginsburg

1. Change often comes incrementally
   Ginsburg’s litigation strategy shows that systemic change is rarely immediate—we build it with persistent, well-chosen steps.

2. Dissent with care and clarity
   Her dissents were not mere protest—they were reasoned arguments aimed at future jurisprudence and public awareness.

3. Balancing modesty with ambition
   She combined deep humility with a fierce sense of purpose, often acknowledging others even as she pushed boundaries.

4. Partnership and mutual respect matter
   Her marriage with Martin Ginsburg was notable for its support and mutual intellectual alliances, defying then-common norms.

5. Resilience in adversity
   She endured discrimination, health challenges, and resistance—but remained committed to her work.

6. Voice shapes legacy
   Her words—opinions, speeches, and public statements—magnified her legal impact and inspired social movements.

Conclusion

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life is a testament to how intellect, persistence, empathy, and principle can combine to change both law and culture. She advanced gender equality through methodical strategy; she served on the highest court with moral gravity and juridical skill; she endured personal challenges while nurturing a legacy of hope and courage.

Her story reminds us that law is not an abstract domain—it’s a tool for justice, shaped by human effort, principle, and vision. Her footsteps are tracks for those who come after.