In Britain the government has to come down in front of Parliament every day to explain its actions, but here the President never answers directly to Congress. — Bella Abzug

We are affirming human rights for all women and girls, acknowledging the full range of diversity that exists, and detailing actions to prevent violence. — Bella Abzug

The women’s movement, not only here in The U.S., but worldwide, is bigger and stronger than ever before and in places where it has never been. It has arms. It has legs. And most importantly, it has heads. — Bella Abzug

All the men on my staff can type. — Bella Abzug

If we get a government that reflects more of what this country is really about, we can turn the century–and the economy–around. — Bella Abzug

I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business. — Bella Abzug

When I was a young lawyer, working women wore hats. It was the only way they would take you seriously. — Bella Abzug

We are coming down from our pedestal and up from the laundry room. — Bella Abzug

This woman’s place is in the House–the House of Representatives. — Bella Abzug

As women, we know that we must always find ways to change the process because the present institutions want to hold on to power and keep the status quo. — Bella Abzug

Our struggle today is not to have a female Einstein get appointed as an assistant professor. It is for a woman schlemiel to get as quickly promoted as a male schlemiel. — Bella Abzug

We have done almost everything in pairs since Noah, except govern. And the world has suffered for it. — Bella Abzug

I’m a politician. I run for office. That’s my profession. — Bella Abzug

I began wearing hats as a young lawyer because it helped me to establish my professional identity. Before that, whenever I was at a meeting, someone would ask me to get coffee. — Bella Abzug

Women will not simply be mainstreamed into the polluted stream. Women are changing the stream, making it clean and green and safe for all–every gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, age, and ability. — Bella Abzug

Maybe we weren’t at the Last Supper, but we’re certainly going to be at the next one. — Bella Abzug

I am not elevating women to sainthood, nor am I suggesting that all women share the same views, or that all women are good and all men bad. — Bella Abzug

I prefer the word ‘homemaker’ because ‘housewife’ always implies that there may be a wife someplace else. — Bella Abzug

They are a very extensive minority who have suffered discrimination and who have the same right to participation in the promise and fruits of society as every other individual. — Bella Abzug

Our struggle was political, ideological and economic, and we felt we couldn’t make something of ourselves unless we bettered society. We saw the two together. — Bella Abzug

Never go back, never apologize, and never forget we’re half the human race. — Bella Abzug

I always had a decent sense of outrage. — Bella Abzug

I spend all day figuring out how to beat the machine and knock the crap out of the political power structure. — Bella Abzug

In the face of so much pain, I remain an incurable optimist. I am fueled by the passion of the women I have been privileged to meet and work with, buoyed by their hope for peace, justice, and democracy. — Bella Abzug

We need laws that protect everyone–men and women, straights and gays, regardless of sexual perversion…ah, persuasion. — Bella Abzug

Imperfect though it may be, the Beijing Platform for Action is the strongest statement of consensus on women’s equality, empowerment and justice ever produced by governments. — Bella Abzug

The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes. — Bella Abzug

Working women wore hats. It was the only way they would take you seriously. — Bella Abzug