Madeleine Albright led an iconic life and career, coming to the United States in 1948 from Czechoslovakia and eventually becoming the first female U.S. secretary of state.
Albright died on Wednesday from cancer at age 84. She was a "tireless champion of democracy and human rights," her family wrote on Twitter.
Among many other titles and awards, Albright was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and a professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service at the time of her death.
Albright documented her iconic career in at least nine books about her life and opinions on foreign affairs, as well as countless articles and interviews. In the wake of her death, many on social media began sharing notable quotes of wisdom from the trailblazer attributed to her over the years.
Madeleine Albright quotes:
"Did my career cause my divorce? I have always resented the question. I consider it insulting to women who want a career, and I reject the implication that I was selfish. I also resent the question because I don't know the answer. There are many contradictions in the way I feel." — Madam Secretary: A Memoir
"In different ways and at various times, we had each been left to explore the boundaries of our own inner strength by a husband who had deceived, deserted, or died." — Madam Secretary: A Memoir
"I get up every morning and I'm grateful for everything that has happened. I go through my list about being grateful for my children and grandchildren, and for the really remarkable life that I have been able to have." — An interview with HuffPost
"I didn't apologize, but I learned that sometimes you can overstep a little bit, that in a really serious situation, with somebody who may not have the same sense of humor, you can go too far." — My Favorite Mistake for Newsweek
"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent." — An interview with HuffPost
"My hope is that young women like my two granddaughters—those who have lived in a world where Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, who played school sports thanks to Title IX and who have never had to check "married" or "single" on a job application—will build on the progress we have made. But that will happen only if women help one another. And for those who do that, there will always be a special place of honor." — Op-Ed for The New York Times
"We need a recognition that things are different, that we are dealing with problems that require international cooperation. I would make sure we talk to people with whom we disagree and try to understand where they're coming from, not just tolerate them, but figure out what is motivating them." — Interview with The New York Times
"As a refugee myself...I understand how important it is to be received somewhere with respect and a sense that you are not just a problem for everybody, that it's a human issue, and you are opportunity." — Buzzfeed News
"I think what needs to happen is we need to help each other. And my motto is that there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." — Ted Talk, 2010
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Emma Mayer is a Newsweek Culture Writer based in Wyoming. Her focus is reporting on celebrities, books, movies, and music. ... Read more
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