But experience has taught me that you cannot value dreams according to the odds of their coming true.”
-- Sonia Sotomayor (Preface paragraph 4)

Importance: Sonia writes about her early dream of becoming involved in the legal system with the goal of eventually being a judge. She agrees that there are a limited number of seats on the Supreme Court and that those seats don't often come often, but she points out that she is living proof that a person can reach goals, even when the odds are against them.

May God bless you, favor you, and deliver you from all evil and danger. Just her saying it made it so.”
-- Abuelita Mercedes (Chapter 2 paragraph 55)

Importance: This is the blessing that Abuelita bestowed on Sonia each time Sonia left her grandmother's house. Sonia's relationship with her grandmother was very close and it seems that Sonia felt her grandmother's love was strong enough to make this blessing real.

From here, Mami, Junior, and...
-- Sonia Sotomayor (chapter 5 paragraph 14)