But though every normal man thus cherishes the soothing…
““But though every normal man thus cherishes the soothing unction that he is the intellectual superior of all women, and particularly of his wife, he constantly gives the lie to his pretension by consulting and deferring to what he calls her intuition. That is to say, he knows by experience that her judgment in many matters of capital concern is more subtle and searching than his own, and, being disinclined to accredit this greater sagacity to a more competent intelligence, he takes refuge behind the doctrine that it is due to some impenetrable and intangible talent for guessing correctly, some half mystical super sense, some vague (and, in essence, infra-human) instinct.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The American Language, 1919
Mencken critiques the male belief of intellectual superiority over women, noting they secretly rely on women's intuition for complex decisions while attributing it to mystical talent.
In simple terms: Men see women as smarter but deny it, calling it intuition.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value women's insight openly.
Themes
gender
ego
intelligence
intuition
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- business negotiations
- political decision making
- family planning
Key Concepts
patriarchy
cognitive bias
social perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you acknowledge women's contributions without mystifying them?
- What impact does this bias have on collaborative decisions?
A Different Perspective
Attributing women's judgment to mysticism can reinforce stereotypes and diminish credit.