Ruth Bader Ginsburg Explains The Meaning Of Life

Speaking to an audience of over 1,000 people comprising students, faculty and staff assembled at the Stanford Memorial Church, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that to live meaningfully, try to look beyond yourselves and instead try to do something for the community.

“I tell the law students I address now and then, if you’re going to be a lawyer and just practice your profession, well, you have a skill, so you’re very much like a plumber,” she said.

Eighty-three-year-old Ginsburg’s comments were delivered as part of the Rathbun Lecture on a Meaningful Life. Following the likes of his holiness the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey, Ginsburg is only the seventh Rathbun Visiting Fellow since the program was first started through the establishment of the The Harry and Emilia Rathbun Fund by the Foundation for Global Community in 2008. According to news.stanford.edu: “the fund honors Harry and Emilia Rathbun and their 'meaning of life' legacy of helping students experience personal reflection, thoughtful discussion and a deeper exploration of life’s purpose.”

“If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself…something to repair tears in your community. Something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you. That’s what I think a meaningful life is – living not for oneself, but for one’s community,” said Ginsburg, who is only the second woman ever to be appointed as a justice of the country's highest court.

Ginsburg delivered her opening statements by reading the preface from her 2016 book “My Own Words” and then discussed her memorable legal cases on gender equality with Jane Shaw, the dean for religious life at Stanford. This was followed by Ginsburg speaking about her role models and people from the legal fraternity who inspired her during her career. The session ended with a Q&A with students. Ginsburg, however, steered clear of discussing President Donald Trump nominee for the Supreme Court — Neil Gorsuch — during her speech.

At one point Ginsburg was asked if she has any advice to share to which she replied, “I do.”

“It comes from my savvy mother-in-law, advice she gave me on my wedding day. ‘In every good marriage…it helps sometimes to be a little deaf.’ I have followed that advice assiduously, and not only at home through 56 years of a marital partnership nonpareil. I have employed it as well in every workplace, including the Supreme Court. When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.” Ginsburg said.