--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wife is property that one acquires by…" description: "\"A wife is property that one acquires by contract, she is transferable, because possession of her requires title; in fact, woman is, so to speak, only m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/honor-de-balzac-197_acquire_a-wife-is-property-that-one-acquires-by_1907490.jpg" --- # A wife is property that one acquires by contract, she is… ![“A wife is property that one acquires by contract, she is transferable, because possession of her requires title; in fact, woman is, so to speak, only man's appendage; consequently, slice, cut, clip her, you have all rights to her.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/honor-de-balzac-197_acquire_a-wife-is-property-that-one-acquires-by_1907490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/honor-de-balzac-197_acquire_a-wife-is-property-that-one-acquires-by_1907490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/honor-de-balzac-197_acquire_a-wife-is-property-that-one-acquires-by_1907490.jpg) > “A wife is property that one acquires by contract, she is transferable, because possession of her requires title; in fact, woman is, so to speak, only man's appendage; consequently, slice, cut, clip her, you have all rights to her.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote treats women as property, reflecting patriarchal views that reduce women to possessions transferable through legal means. **In simple terms:** Women are described as owned and controlled. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge gender inequality. Themes gender inequality patriarchy property metaphor human rights Mood critical reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - marriage contracts - legal reforms - education on consent - activism against gender violence Key Concepts feminism legal ownership social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing women as property affect society? - What legal changes can protect women's rights? A Different Perspective The perspective ignores women's autonomy and agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [Gospel possession requires gospel proclamation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/gospel-possession-requires-gospel-proclamation/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/the-soul-languishing-in-obscurity-contracts-a-kind-of-rust-or/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [It really never came up, but I think that in present-day America, they're - you know, and I touched on it in the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/it-really-never-came-up-but-i-think-that-in-present-day-america-they/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Clip your year-end column and put it away for 10 years. 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