Always Quote by Jill Lepore
“One thing that always frustrated me was that, while Benjamin Franklin's was the best-known face of the eighteenth century, no one ever took his sister's likeness.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Sisters of Liberty, Jill Lepore, 2020
Historical figures are remembered unevenly, often overlooking women’s contributions.
In simple terms: History favors famous men over women.
Key Takeaway
Seek to recognize overlooked voices.
Themes
history
gender
recognition
legacy
bias
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- educational curricula
- media representation
Key Concepts
feminist historiography
social memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we amplify forgotten figures?
- What impact does gender bias have on collective memory?
A Different Perspective
Historical narratives can be reshaped by selective emphasis.
![“[John's Adams] description of [Benjamin] Franklin in a letter to [his wife] Abigail in 1775 is laudatory. Only when he experiences all the adulation paid to Franklin in Paris does he begin to change his tune.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/775/gordon-s-wood-13199_abigail_john-s-adams-description-of-benjamin-fra_1471899.jpg)
