--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether our feet are compressed in iron…" description: "\"Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png" --- # Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces… ![“Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or classed with idiots, lunatics and criminals in the laws and constitutions of the State, the principle is the same; for the humiliations of the…” quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png) > “Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or classed with idiots, lunatics and criminals in the laws and constitutions of the State, the principle is the same; for the humiliations of the spirit are as real as the visible badges of servitude.” [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. The passage equates physical and mental oppression with legal and societal constraints, arguing that both are equally demeaning. **In simple terms:** Both visible and invisible forms of oppression harm the spirit. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist all forms of domination. Themes oppression equality human dignity Mood determined critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - education - legal system - personal relationships Key Concepts social hierarchy legal injustice psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - What structures perpetuate invisible oppression? - How can individuals reclaim agency? A Different Perspective Change often faces resistance from entrenched powers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Badges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/badges/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Cows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cows/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Humiliations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliations-753579/) [Humiliations Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliations-spirit-6153718/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [Masks Yoked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks-yoked-6153720/) [Principle Humiliations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-humiliations-6153717/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Servitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servitude/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes/) [Shoes Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoes-faces-6153719/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Veils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veils/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) ## Related quotes > [He was so excessively polite that Wallendar suspected he had endured many humiliations in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/he-was-so-excessively-polite-that-wallendar-suspected-he-had-endured/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/all-that-happens-to-us-including-our-humiliations-our-misfortunes-our/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Life makes fools of all of us sooner or later. But keep your sense of humor and you'll at least be able to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-murray/life-makes-fools-of-all-of-us-sooner-or-later-but-keep-your-sense-of/) [Paul Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-murray/) > [You shouldn't bear humiliations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/you-shouldn-t-bear-humiliations/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“Why not, in exchange for the pains and humiliations of being superseded, at least exert the influence that the effete may always bring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/why-not-in-exchange-for-the-pains-and-humiliations-of-being/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one’s art. One must accept it. For this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/everything-that-happens-including-humiliations-embarrassments/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I have never, God or whatever knows, prostrated myself to be famous, but I would meander through all the sewers of the world, through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beckmann/i-have-never-god-or-whatever-knows-prostrated-myself-to-be-famous-but/) [Max Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beckmann/) > [Let truth be told - women do as a rule live through such humiliations, and regain their spirits, and again look about them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/let-truth-be-told-women-do-as-a-rule-live-through-such-humiliations/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [There is really no end to life's little humiliations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/there-is-really-no-end-to-life-s-little-humiliations/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [As patience leads to peace, and study to science, so are humiliations the path that leads to humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/as-patience-leads-to-peace-and-study-to-science-so-are-humiliations/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [One's own vanities and humiliations I find a delicious subject for conversation. Things said of me behind my back I don't enjoy, and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/one-s-own-vanities-and-humiliations-i-find-a-delicious-subject-for/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [The street is full of humiliations to the proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-street-is-full-of-humiliations-to-the-proud/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The opposite of esprit d'escalier is the way that life's embarrassments come back to haunt us even after they're long past. I could remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/the-opposite-of-esprit-d-escalier-is-the-way-that-life-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [We learn humility through accepting humiliations cheerfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-learn-humility-through-accepting-humiliations-cheerfully/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [A sensitive boy's humiliations may be very good fun for ordinary thick-skinned grown-ups; but to the boy himself theyareso acute, so ignominious, that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-sensitive-boy-s-humiliations-may-be-very-good-fun-for-ordinary/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More by Elizabeth Cady Stanton > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) [Explore all 226 Elizabeth Cady Stanton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) ## More Badges quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/but-despite-their-heroic-acts-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [“Ideas on Earth were badges of friendship or enmity. Their content did not matter. Friends agreed with friends, in order to express friendliness. Enemies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/ideas-on-earth-were-badges-of-friendship-or-enmity-their-content-did/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [A woman with cut hair is a filthy spectacle, and much like a monsterit being natural and comely to women to nourish their hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-prynne/a-woman-with-cut-hair-is-a-filthy-spectacle-and-much-like-a-monsterit/) [William Prynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-prynne/) > [It's an honour to wear the shirt and the badge, and to be part of such an illustrious club is gonna be exciting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asmir-begovic/it-s-an-honour-to-wear-the-shirt-and-the-badge-and-to-be-part-of-such/) [Asmir Begovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asmir-begovic/) > [There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/there-still-remains-one-effort-of-magnanimity-one-sacrifice-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [I'm not going to allow anybody to hold a badge up over me or a cross or any other power symbol and say I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-m-not-going-to-allow-anybody-to-hold-a-badge-up-over-me-or-a-cross/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Yeah, I love living in New York, man, and people who live in New York, we wear that fact like a badge right on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/yeah-i-love-living-in-new-york-man-and-people-who-live-in-new-york-we/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [One bad review doesn't ruin my day because I realize what a badge of honor it is to get a bit of criticism at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-bad-review-doesn-t-ruin-my-day-because-i-realize-what-a-badge-of/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Brotherly love is still the distinguishing badge of every true Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/brotherly-love-is-still-the-distinguishing-badge-of-every-true/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Appalling numbers of youth have been led into a cynical ultra-sophisticated attitude which regards drinking as a badge of social aptitude, which makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-parker-yockey/appalling-numbers-of-youth-have-been-led-into-a-cynical-ultra/) [Francis Parker Yockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-parker-yockey/) > [The title of Christian is a reproach to us, if we estrange ourselves from Him after whom we are denominated. The name of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/the-title-of-christian-is-a-reproach-to-us-if-we-estrange-ourselves/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [As long as our civilisation keeps trundling along generally forwards, then there is the possibility of a future where ethnicity is merely an interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/as-long-as-our-civilisation-keeps-trundling-along-generally-forwards/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) [Browse all 197 Badges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/badges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or classed with idiots, lunatics and criminals in the laws and constitutions of the State, the principle is the same; for the humiliations of the spirit are as real as the visible badges of servitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Cady Stanton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron-shoes-our-faces-hidden-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Badges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron-shoes-our-faces-hidden-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/elizabeth-cady-stanton-1574_badges_whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron_1613339.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with…” — Elizabeth Cady Stanton", "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": "Elizabeth Cady Stanton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether our feet are compressed in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron-shoes-our-faces-hidden-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/whether-our-feet-are-compressed-in-iron-shoes-our-faces-hidden-with/#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 } } ] } ```