Quote

I became so consumed with trying to live up to what the public expected that I lost myself. I don't know of anyone else who can say this.

I was raised in a family dedicated to public service.

I grew up assuming that I would be in public service. I never planned to be in business.

Going back to high school and college, I believed I would be involved in public service. I literally could not conceptualize anything else.

I thought I'd grow up to be a teacher, or maybe run for political office.

My first job, which I had to take when not more than fifteen, was assistant to a fruit peddler. It seemed all right to me until a little girl told me snootily, 'We never deal with peddler!' Thereupon I resigned, ashamed of what I was doing.

I was planning to go into law or politics. I was well known for my public speaking. I went to an all-girl boarding school with uniforms. It was very posh for someone like me who came from a world where my parents showed beagles and sold dog products out of a yellow caravan.

What motivated me to dedicate myself to public service for nearly two-thirds of my life was the chance to produce results for those people who entrusted me to be their voice and their champion.

I really wanted to work and become independent.