Skip to content

Women are, therefore, to be considered either as moral…

“Women are, therefore, to be considered either as moral beings, or so weak that they must be entirely subjected to the superior faculties of men. Let us examine this question. Rousseau declares, that a woman should never, for a moment feel herself independent, that she should be governed by fear to…” quote by Mary Wollstonecraft
Download Open image
““Women are, therefore, to be considered either as moral beings, or so weak that they must be entirely subjected to the superior faculties of men. Let us examine this question. Rousseau declares, that a woman should never, for a moment feel herself independent, that she should be governed by fear to exercise her NATURAL cunning, and made a coquetish slave in order to render her a more alluring object of desire, a SWEETER companion to man, whenever he chooses to relax himself. He carries the arguments, which he pretends to draw from the indications of nature, still further, and insinuates that truth and fortitude the corner stones of all human virtue, shall be cultivated with certain restrictions, because with respect to the female character, obedience is the grand lesson which ought to be impressed with unrelenting rigour. What nonsense! When will a great man arise with sufficient strength of mind to puff away the fumes which pride and sensuality have thus spread over the subject! If women are by nature inferior to men, their virtues must be the same in quality, if not in degree, or virtue is a relative idea; consequently, their conduct should be founded on the same principles, and have the same aim.””

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 deserve equal moral status and should not be confined to submissive roles dictated by men.

In simple terms: Women deserve equal respect and freedom.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for gender equality and challenge restrictive norms.

Themes

equality rights gender feminism

Mood

hopeful defiant

Type

philosophical activist

When to use this quote

  • education reform
  • workplace policy
  • legal rights

Key Concepts

social justice human dignity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies reshape norms to empower all genders?
  • What steps can individuals take to promote equality?
A Different Perspective

Some argue biological differences justify different roles, which can limit progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Mary Wollstonecraft

Explore all 225 Mary Wollstonecraft quotes

More Character quotes

Browse all 32,707 Character quotes