--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have prayed, we have coaxed, we have…" description: "\"We have prayed, we have coaxed, we have begged, for the vote, with the hope that men, out of chivalry, would bestow equal rights upon women and take th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/helen-keller-429_affair_we-have-prayed-we-have-coaxed-we-have-be_1692430.png" --- # We have prayed, we have coaxed, we have begged, for the… ![“We have prayed, we have coaxed, we have begged, for the vote, with the hope that men, out of chivalry, would bestow equal rights upon women and take them into partnership in the affairs of the state. We hoped that their common sense would triumph over prejudices and stupidity. We thought their…” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/helen-keller-429_affair_we-have-prayed-we-have-coaxed-we-have-be_1692430.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/helen-keller-429_affair_we-have-prayed-we-have-coaxed-we-have-be_1692430.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/helen-keller-429_affair_we-have-prayed-we-have-coaxed-we-have-be_1692430.png) > “We have prayed, we have coaxed, we have begged, for the vote, with the hope that men, out of chivalry, would bestow equal rights upon women and take them into partnership in the affairs of the state. We hoped that their common sense would triumph over prejudices and stupidity. We thought their boasted sense of justice would overcome the errors that so often fetter the human spirit; but we have always gone away empty handed. We shall beg no more.” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments that appeals to men’s chivalry and sense of justice have repeatedly failed to secure equal rights for women, leading to disillusionment and a resolve to stop pleading. **In simple terms:** Pleading to men for women’s rights has repeatedly failed, prompting a shift to self‑determination. Key Takeaway Stop pleading; demand rights directly. Themes women’s rights justice disillusionment Mood determined resolute Type political historical When to use this quote - voting rights campaigns - legislative reform - grassroots organizing - public speaking Key Concepts feminism political activism Questions to Reflect On - How can women assert agency without waiting for male approval? - What strategies replace pleading with action? A Different Perspective Relying on others’ goodwill may not bring lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Chivalry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalry/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Fetters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fetters/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Partnership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partnership/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [We must vote for hope, vote for life, vote for a brighter future for all of our loved ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-markey/we-must-vote-for-hope-vote-for-life-vote-for-a-brighter-future-for/) [Ed Markey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-markey/) > [The night schedule is a crazy pit I fall into most of the time, but I do like it because the buzz of normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/the-night-schedule-is-a-crazy-pit-i-fall-into-most-of-the-time-but-i/) [Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/) > [“I just wondered what a thing it would be...if overnight everything you owe anything to, justice, or love, had really gone away. 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