Nature Quote by Edwin A. Abbott
““Once a Woman, always a Woman" is a Decree of Nature; and the very Laws of Evolution seem suspended in her disfavour. Yet at least we can admire the wise Prearrangement which has ordained that, as they have no hopes, so they shall have no memory to recall, and no forethought to anticipate, the miseries and humiliations which are at once a necessity of their existence and the basis of the constitution of Flatland.””
About This Quote
The passage satirically claims that women are biologically destined to suffer, suggesting that their lack of hope and memory shields them from anticipating their oppression, which is portrayed as both inevitable and foundational to their world.
In simple terms: Satirical critique of gendered oppression.
Key Takeaway
Gender roles are socially constructed and oppressive.
Themes
gender
satire
social critique
power dynamics
feminism
Mood
ironic
critical
reflective
Type
satire
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- historical gender norms
- literary analysis
- feminist theory
- social commentary
Key Concepts
patriarchy
memory
hope
social construction
Practical Applications
- critical essays
- educational curricula
Questions to Reflect On
- How does satire reveal hidden power structures?
- What does the text suggest about memory and agency?
![“For the religious, passivism [i.e., objects are obedient to the laws of nature] provides a clear role of God as the author of the laws of nature. If the laws of nature are God's commands for an essentially passive world ..., God also has the power to suspend the laws of nature, and so perform…” quote by Brian Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea9/brian-ellis-75025_clear_for-the-religious-passivism-i-e-objects_131744.jpg)
