One of the lessons that Justice Ginsburg often repeated was the wisdom from her mother-in-law who advised her that sometimes it is advisable to be deaf.

Although it may have been first offered as advice for happiness in marriage, I recently heard a commentator who said that the Justice followed that advice in her professional life as well — not allowing herself to be distracted and lose focus by reacting to anger and other diversions often encountered.

A lesson from Justice Ginsburg’s mother-in-law for all of us.