For a woman as for a man, marriage might enormously help…
“For a woman as for a man, marriage might enormously help or devastatingly hinder the growth of her power to contribute something impersonally valuable to the community in which she lived, but it was not that power, and could not be regarded as an end in itself. Nor, even, were children ends in themselves; it was useless to go on producing human beings merely in order that they, in their sequence, might produce others, and never turn from this business of continuous procreation to the accomplishment of some definite and lasting piece of work.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Marriage can either empower or restrict a woman's ability to contribute meaningfully beyond just bearing children.
In simple terms: Marriage's impact on women's societal contribution.
Key Takeaway
Seek personal purpose beyond traditional roles.
Themes
gender
marriage
purpose
societal contribution
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
sociological
feminist
When to use this quote
- career development
- family planning
- community involvement
Key Concepts
feminism
social structure
Questions to Reflect On
- How does marriage affect your personal goals?
- Can societal contribution be achieved outside marriage?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all marriages are similar, ignoring individual agency.