Hillary Clinton Quotes To Use As Comebacks

Despite growing scrutiny surrounding her family earnings and the ongoing scrutiny of her record- and email-keeping habits, Hillary Clinton has remained undaunted. Not even slipping approval ratings can discourage her. This is because she's well prepared for this kind of dissection, and, ultimately, she knows what's up — as evidenced by her many, many words of wisdom. In fact, there are numerous fierce Hillary Clinton quotes that anyone can use as comebacks, proving that she just can't be messed with. She may very well be the embodiment of "I am rubber and you are glue," except expressed much more eloquently.

According to a recent CNN/ORC poll conducted at the end of May, Clinton's ratings have taken an alarming dip in the last few months since news of her private email address came out. When just over 1,000 adults were asked whether they viewed Clinton favorably or unfavorably, just 46 percent said favorably while 50 percent said unfavorably and 3 percent said they didn't know. When the same poll was conducted in the middle of March, 53 percent said they had a favorable opinion of her while only 44 percent answered unfavorable. In addition to her personal emails, which the State Department is continuing to pore over, Hillary and Bill's financial records are now under the microscope, after the Associated Press reported that she had omitted one of his companies he had used to handle payments from her personal financial disclosure last month.Any average person, when faced with this much pressure and probing, might just shut down and perhaps hibernate until everything blows over, but Hillary Clinton is not your average person. To all her haters out there, this is what she has to say — take note because you, too, can use these sharp quips for your own comebacks.

"Dignity does not come from avenging insults, especially with violence that can never be justified. It comes from taking responsibility and advancing our common humanity."

Clinton said this at a 2012 Clinton Global Initiative meeting in a message to members of the Muslim community who were, at the time, staging protests against an indie film that shows a blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. The next time someone hurls insults at you, instead of sinking to your aggressor's level, just calmly repeat this quote and walk away.

"You want me to tell you what my husband thinks? My husband is not secretary of state; I am. If you want my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I am not going to be channeling my husband."

Most women have probably experienced this kind of blatant sexism in our daily lives — a stranger asking your boyfriend for directions but not you, a real estate agent asking if your husband or father would be taking a look at the apartment as well, and a myriad of other scenarios that make the woman feel powerless and irrelevant. The next time this happens, just substitute "secretary of state" with whatever fits your situation. "My husband is not buying this car; I am. I am not going to be channeling my husband." Or better yet, "I'm not married. If you want my husband's opinion, then I guess I won't be buying this car."

"And to that I say, what century are they living in?"

While speaking in front of the South Carolina Democratic Women's Council, Clinton uttered this in disbelief when citing three Republican's complete lack of interest in closing the pay gap. It's a multipurpose quip with enough bite to silence those who oppose equal pay, equal marriage, racial equality, and just about anything else that's long overdue in the 21st century.

"I can't stand whining. I can't stand the kind of paralysis that some people fall into because they're not happy with the choices they've made. You live in a time when there are endless choices. ... But you have to work on yourself. ... Do something!"

We all know whiners, the ones who'd rather complain than take action. The next time someone you know starts their usual "poor me" spiel, offer Hillary's take on the situation and you'll not only stun them with your eloquence but perhaps also stir them into action.

"The American people are tired of liars and people who pretend to be something they're not."

There's nothing more effective than bringing the entire country into the conversation when you suspect your friend or partner of lying to you. What could they say once you've thrown this Hillary line in their face?

"People can judge me for what I've done. And I think when somebody's out in the public eye, that's what they do. So I'm fully comfortable with who I am, what I stand for and what I've always stood for."

Hillary said this on PBS NewsHour in 2014, when responding to her comment that she and Bill were "dead broke" when they left the White House. This is truly the ultimate comeback for anyone who tries to put you down.

"Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you."

Clinton offered some sage advice in her 2003 memoir Living History. While this isn't necessarily a verbal comeback you can repurpose to silence your own critics, knowing this internally will shield you from even the harshest criticism.

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