Gloria Steinem — a writer, activist, and central figure of the feminist movement — has long argued for equality grounded in agency and lived experience. This quote from her 2015 memoir “My Life on the Road” distills a democratic principle at the heart of her work: Power should belong to those who must live with its consequences. In this quote, Steinem challenges systems of authority that exclude the very people they affect. When applied to everyday life, the idea extends beyond policy to workplaces, relationships, and communities, reminding us to involve others in decisions that shape their lives and to assert our own voice when those decisions concern us. It is, ultimately, a call for fairness couched in empathy and respect.