Comet Quote by Bathsua Makin
“A learned woman is thought to be a comet, that bodes mischief whenever it appears.”
About This Quote
Source Pamphlet: A Short Treatise on Women, 1655
A learned woman is likened to a comet, bringing mischief when she appears.
In simple terms: Educated women were seen as disruptive in patriarchal societies.
Key Takeaway
Challenge stereotypes about educated women.
Themes
gender
education
stereotypes
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic settings
- workplace
- public speaking
- media representation
Key Concepts
feminism
social critique
historical bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern equivalents exist for the "comet" metaphor?
- How can we reframe educated women positively?
A Different Perspective
Historical analogies may oversimplify complex social dynamics.
![“One could imagine that a group of anthropologists and scientists sent off to study a previously uncontacted Amazon tribe today might be bound by similar strictures [not to reproduce with natives]. But suppose some of them disagreed? Suppose some of them "went native"--as used to be said of…” quote by Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d7/graham-hancock-10752_anthropology_one-could-imagine-that-a-group-of-anthro_1191303.jpg)