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A virtuous man may have a choleric or a sanguine…

“A virtuous man may have a choleric or a sanguine constitution, be gay or grave, unreproved, be firm till he is almost over-bearing, or weakly subsmissive, have no will or opinion of his own; but all women are to be levelled, by meekness and docility, into one character of yielding softness and…” quote by Mary Wollstonecraft
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““A virtuous man may have a choleric or a sanguine constitution, be gay or grave, unreproved, be firm till he is almost over-bearing, or weakly subsmissive, have no will or opinion of his own; but all women are to be levelled, by meekness and docility, into one character of yielding softness and gentle compliance””

Mary Wollstonecraft

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Women are expected to suppress individuality and adopt passive, compliant traits, contrasting with men’s varied temperaments.

In simple terms: Women are urged to be meek and obedient.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and resist pressure to conform to passive roles.

Themes

gender roles conformity women's rights identity power dynamics

Mood

frustrated determined hopeful

Type

critical reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

  • marriage
  • workplace
  • family expectations
  • education
  • political activism

Key Concepts

feminist philosophy social conditioning psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does societal pressure shape gender expectations?
  • What benefits arise from embracing authentic selves?
A Different Perspective

The view ignores women's agency and the value of diverse personalities.

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