--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men are cowards before women until they…" description: "\"Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants.\" — Anthony Trollope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg" --- # Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants. ![“Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants.” quote by Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg) > “Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants.” [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests men act timidly around women until they gain power, at which point they become oppressive. **In simple terms:** Power changes behavior toward women. Key Takeaway Beware of power corrupting relationships. Themes gender power tyranny Mood cautionary reflective Type social philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - politics - personal relationships Key Concepts feminist theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does power affect gender dynamics? - What safeguards prevent tyranny? A Different Perspective Not all men become tyrants; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Cowards Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-women-4973386/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-cowards-850842/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Women Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-tyrants-2170328/) ## Related quotes > [Men are cowards when it comes to the "eternally feminine": and the little women know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/men-are-cowards-when-it-comes-to-the-eternally-feminine-and-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/any-man-who-is-a-man-may-not-in-honor-submit-to-threats-or-violence/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Fortunately for themselves and the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/fortunately-for-themselves-and-the-world-nearly-all-men-are-cowards/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [All men would be cowards if they could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/all-men-would-be-cowards-if-they-could/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [If women were in charge of everything, there would be women tyrants. If black people were in charge, there would be black tyrants. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/if-women-were-in-charge-of-everything-there-would-be-women-tyrants-if/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [When we too are armed and trained, we can convince men that we have hands, feet, and a heart like yours; and although we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-franco/when-we-too-are-armed-and-trained-we-can-convince-men-that-we-have/) [Veronica Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-franco/) > [none can be Tyrants but Cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/none-can-be-tyrants-but-cowards/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [Most Men are Cowards, all Men should be Knaves. The Difference lies, as far as I can see, Not in the thing it self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/most-men-are-cowards-all-men-should-be-knaves-the-difference-lies-as/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [That all men would be cowards if they dare, Some men we know have courage to declare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/that-all-men-would-be-cowards-if-they-dare-some-men-we-know-have/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [What changed these very ordinary men (who were such cowards that they did not dare stand too near the cross in case they got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bertram-phillips/what-changed-these-very-ordinary-men-who-were-such-cowards-that-they/) [John Bertram Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bertram-phillips/) > [Reflection makes men cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/reflection-makes-men-cowards/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“I wonder is it because men are cowards in heart that they admire bravery so much, and place military valour so far beyond every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-wonder-is-it-because-men-are-cowards-in-heart-that-they-admire/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [For all men would be cowards if they durst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/for-all-men-would-be-cowards-if-they-durst/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [“What the hell’s the matter with you men? Are you cowards as well as stupid? You boys make me sick. I’m done with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/what-the-hell-s-the-matter-with-you-men-are-you-cowards-as-well-as/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“Men are such cowards. They outrage every law of the world, and are afraid of the world’s tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-are-such-cowards-they-outrage-every-law-of-the-world-and-are/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Anthony Trollope > [“I have from the first felt sure that the writer, when he sits down to commence his novel, should do so, not because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-have-from-the-first-felt-sure-that-the-writer-when-he-sits-down-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Things to be done offer themselves, I suppose, because they are in themselves desirable; not because it is desirable to have something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/things-to-be-done-offer-themselves-i-suppose-because-they-are-in/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/a-small-daily-task-if-it-be-really-daily-will-beat-the-labours-of-a/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. You have generally been off with the old angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/you-men-find-so-many-angels-in-your-travels-you-have-been-honester/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [To feel that your hours are filled to overflowing, that you can barely steal minutes enough for sleep, that the welfare of many is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/to-feel-that-your-hours-are-filled-to-overflowing-that-you-can-barely/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-necessary-to-get-a-lot-of-men-together-for-the-show-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“An accepted lover, who deserves to have been accepted, should devote every hour at his command to his mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/an-accepted-lover-who-deserves-to-have-been-accepted-should-devote/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Wine is valued by its price, not its flavour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/wine-is-valued-by-its-price-not-its-flavour/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“(On Charles Dickens) It has been the peculiarity and the marvel of this man’s power, that he has invested his puppets with a charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/on-charles-dickens-it-has-been-the-peculiarity-and-the-marvel-of-this/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [There is no road to wealth so easy and respectable as that of matrimony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/there-is-no-road-to-wealth-so-easy-and-respectable-as-that-of/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [I hold that gentleman to be the best-dressed whose dress no one observes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-hold-that-gentleman-to-be-the-best-dressed-whose-dress-no-one/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [But mad people never die. That's a well-known fact. They've nothing to trouble them, and they live for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/but-mad-people-never-die-that-s-a-well-known-fact-they-ve-nothing-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/since-woman-s-rights-have-come-up-a-young-woman-is-better-able-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“The heroes of life are so much better than the heroes of romance,” said Caroline.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-heroes-of-life-are-so-much-better-than-the-heroes-of-romance-said/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) [Explore all 448 Anthony Trollope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## More Coward quotes > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) [David A. Cleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-cleinman/) > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) [Suad Amiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suad-amiry/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) [Conn & David Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-david-iggulden/) > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Trollope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they-become-tyrants/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coward" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they-become-tyrants/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68a/anthony-trollope-611_coward_men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they_612826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men are cowards before women until they become tyrants.” — Anthony Trollope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony Trollope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men are cowards before women until...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they-become-tyrants/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/men-are-cowards-before-women-until-they-become-tyrants/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```