--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The point I wish plainly to bring before…" description: "\"The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of individual con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_arbiter_the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before_21533.png" --- # The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this… ![“The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of individual conscience and judgment--our republican idea, individual citizenship. In discussing the rights of woman, we are to consider, first, what belongs to…” quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_arbiter_the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before_21533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_arbiter_the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before_21533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_arbiter_the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before_21533.png) > “The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of individual conscience and judgment--our republican idea, individual citizenship. In discussing the rights of woman, we are to consider, first, what belongs to her as an individual, in a world of her own, the arbiter of her own destiny, an imaginary Robinson Crusoe with her woman Friday on a solitary island. Her rights under such circumstances are to use all her faculties for her own safety and happiness.” [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stanton argues that women's rights must be grounded in the principle of individual autonomy, treating each woman as a sovereign moral agent responsible for her own destiny. **In simple terms:** Individual autonomy as the basis for women's rights. Key Takeaway Rights stem from personal conscience, not gender. Themes individualism gender equality republicanism moral autonomy Mood defiant inspirational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legal reform debates - educational curricula on civic rights - women's suffrage campaigns Key Concepts individual conscience citizenship self-determination Practical Applications - policy advocacy for gender-neutral rights - empowerment workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does framing women's rights as individual rights change public perception? - What challenges arise when personal autonomy conflicts with communal norms? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday/) [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Protestants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestants/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Women 's rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-rights/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Honesty is the great essential. It exalts the individual citizenship, and, without honesty, no man deserves the confidence of the people in private pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gamaliel-harding/honesty-is-the-great-essential-it-exalts-the-individual-citizenship/) Warren Gamaliel Harding > [Trees have as much individuality as human beings. Not even two spruces are alike. There is always some kink or curve or bend of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/trees-have-as-much-individuality-as-human-beings-not-even-two-spruces/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [“In a state where “liberty” is based on the “rights” of each individual there can never be true justice. But in a state where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-a-state-where-liberty-is-based-on-the-rights-of-each-individual/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The word 'truth' itself ceases to have its old meaning. It describes no longer something to be found, with the individual conscience as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-word-truth-itself-ceases-to-have-its-old-meaning-it-describes-no/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [The question of religion was a matter for each individual's conscience, and in a great many cases was the outcome of birth or residence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-larkin/the-question-of-religion-was-a-matter-for-each-individual-s/) [James Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-larkin/) > [The practical revolutionary will understand Goethe's 'conscience is the virtue of observers and not of agents of action'; in action, one does not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-practical-revolutionary-will-understand-goethe-s-conscience-is/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Blind obedience is itself an abuse of human morality. It is a misuse of the human soul in the name of religious commitment. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blind-obedience-is-itself-an-abuse-of-human-morality-it-is-a-misuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We respect the individual conscience of every American on the painful issue of abortion, but believe as a matter of law that this decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-respect-the-individual-conscience-of-every-american-on-the-painful/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“We hear our legislators proclaim unceasingly their respect for the individual conscience, though it be a religious conscience, and themselves anticlericals. All the same,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-sertillanges/we-hear-our-legislators-proclaim-unceasingly-their-respect-for-the/) [Antonin Sertillanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-sertillanges/) > [It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brandriff-crabb/it-goes-beyond-mere-acknowledgment-of-religion-because-its-sole/) Barbara Brandriff Crabb > [“Any individual whose conscience is pure and clear, who can think for himself or herself, is a musalman or muslim, regardless of socio-religious background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/any-individual-whose-conscience-is-pure-and-clear-who-can-think-for/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/above-all-we-should-not-forget-that-government-is-an-evil-a/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Above all we should not forget, that government is an evil, an usurpation upon the private judgment and individual conscience of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/above-all-we-should-not-forget-that-government-is-an-evil-an/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Society itself is an accident to the spirit, and if society in any of its forms is to be justified morally it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/society-itself-is-an-accident-to-the-spirit-and-if-society-in-any-of/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The concept of individual with a conscience is one whose highest allegiance is to his fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-concept-of-individual-with-a-conscience-is-one-whose-highest/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More by Elizabeth Cady Stanton > [The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities of higher education, for the full development of her faculties, forces of mind and body;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-strongest-reason-for-giving-woman-all-the-opportunities-of-higher/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Accepting the view that man was prior in the creation, some Scriptural writers say that as the woman was of the man, therefore, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/accepting-the-view-that-man-was-prior-in-the-creation-some-scriptural/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [I thought that the chief thing to be done in order to equal boys was to be learned and courageous. So I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/i-thought-that-the-chief-thing-to-be-done-in-order-to-equal-boys-was/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/nothing-strengthens-the-judgment-and-quickens-the-conscience-like/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A government is just only when the whole people share equally in its protection and advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/a-government-is-just-only-when-the-whole-people-share-equally-in-its/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [The prolonged slavery of women is the darkest page in human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-prolonged-slavery-of-women-is-the-darkest-page-in-human-history/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-and-women-are/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Woman has been the great unpaid laborer of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/woman-has-been-the-great-unpaid-laborer-of-the-world/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Well, another female child is born into the world! Last Sunday afternoon, Harriot Eaton Stanton - oh! the little heretic thus to desecrate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/well-another-female-child-is-born-into-the-world-last-sunday/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [The bible teaches that woman brought sin and death into the world, that she precipitated the fall of the race, that she was arraigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-bible-teaches-that-woman-brought-sin-and-death-into-the-world/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [... our scholarships should be bestowed on those whose ability and earnestness in the primary department have been proved, and whose capacity for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/our-scholarships-should-be-bestowed-on-those-whose-ability-and/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Because man and woman are the complement of one another, we need woman's thought in national affairs to make a safe and stable government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/because-man-and-woman-are-the-complement-of-one-another-we-need-woman/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [It would be ridiculous to talk of male and female atmospheres, male and female springs or rains, male and female sunshine…How much more ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/it-would-be-ridiculous-to-talk-of-male-and-female-atmospheres-male/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Woman's degradation is in mans idea of his sexual rights. Our religion, laws, customs, are all founded on the belief that woman was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/woman-s-degradation-is-in-mans-idea-of-his-sexual-rights-our-religion/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [I have such an intense pride of sex that the triumphs of women in art, literature, oratory, science, or song rouse my enthusiasm as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/i-have-such-an-intense-pride-of-sex-that-the-triumphs-of-women-in-art/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) [Explore all 226 Elizabeth Cady Stanton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) ## More Arbiter quotes > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The director is the ultimate creative arbiter of what's going to happen. And as a director myself, you really appreciate collaborating with people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-coppola/the-director-is-the-ultimate-creative-arbiter-of-what-s-going-to/) [Roman Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-coppola/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“It is a rash man indeed who would set himself up as final arbiter on all that happened the incredible night the Titanic went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lord/it-is-a-rash-man-indeed-who-would-set-himself-up-as-final-arbiter-on/) [Walter Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lord/) > [Even those who, like me, believe that Roe v. Wade and the decisions elaborating on reproductive rights were constitutionally correct must recognize that, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/even-those-who-like-me-believe-that-roe-v-wade-and-the-decisions/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-single-despot-stands-out-in-the-face-of-all-men-and-says-i-am-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If your only arbiter of anything is money, really you should... go and rob banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/if-your-only-arbiter-of-anything-is-money-really-you-should-go-and/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-gratitude-should-be-commensurate-with-the-boundless-blessings/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [To vest a few fallible men — prosecutors, judges, jurors — with vast powers of literary or artistic censorship, to convert them into what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-vest-a-few-fallible-men-prosecutors-judges-jurors-with-vast-powers/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Wisdom may be the ultimate arbiter, but is seldom the immediate agent in human affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/wisdom-may-be-the-ultimate-arbiter-but-is-seldom-the-immediate-agent/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Taking the decision-making process away from people disempowers them. It also makes them much less likely to buy into the decision, however right it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/taking-the-decision-making-process-away-from-people-disempowers-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The great arbiters of language are the women who speak it in the presence of children... What the women pass on to the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/the-great-arbiters-of-language-are-the-women-who-speak-it-in-the/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [The word 'truth' itself ceases to have its old meaning. It describes no longer something to be found, with the individual conscience as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-word-truth-itself-ceases-to-have-its-old-meaning-it-describes-no/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Modern science kills God and takes his place on the vacant throne. Science is the sole legitimate arbiter of all relavent truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/modern-science-kills-god-and-takes-his-place-on-the-vacant-throne/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > ['An order is an order' was not an excuse to do the wrong thing. You couldn't just blindly follow a government order ... This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/an-order-is-an-order-was-not-an-excuse-to-do-the-wrong-thing-you/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) Browse all 97 Arbiter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of individual conscience and judgment--our republican idea, individual citizenship. 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