--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of asking, 'What should a woman…" description: "\"“Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is a woman—what is her design?' and, 'Why did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png" --- # Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her… ![“Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is a woman—what is her design?' and, 'Why did God place Woman in our midst?” quote by John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png) > ““Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is a woman—what is her design?' and, 'Why did God place Woman in our midst?”” [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a woman's purpose requires seeing her as a designed being, not limiting her to societal roles. **In simple terms:** Focus on a woman's design, not just her role. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor a woman's intrinsic purpose. Themes identity purpose spiritual design Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - faith discussions - gender studies - personal counseling - spiritual mentorship Key Concepts theology gender design purpose Questions to Reflect On - How does your belief shape your view of gender purpose? - What implications does this have for equality? A Different Perspective Design concept may be interpreted differently across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ## Related quotes > [“Pooh!" she exclaimed. "Fancy asking a woman to be reasonable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-phillips-oppenheim/pooh-she-exclaimed-fancy-asking-a-woman-to-be-reasonable/) E. Phillips Oppenheim > [ “Instead of asking ‘what problem should I solve?’ ask ‘what problem do I wish someone else would solve for me?’”\[cxxxi\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/instead-of-asking-what-problem-should-i-solve-ask-what-problem-do-i/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [You have been asking what you could do in the great events that are now stirring, and have found that you could do nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/you-have-been-asking-what-you-could-do-in-the-great-events-that-are/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [Instead of asking why... ask why not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-murgia/instead-of-asking-why-ask-why-not/) Megan Murgia > [Instead of asking, “what do I want from life?,” a more powerful question is, “what does life want from me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/instead-of-asking-what-do-i-want-from-life-a-more-powerful-question/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Instead of always asking yourself why so-and-so acts this or that way, learn to ask: "What's inside of me that wants to hurt itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/instead-of-always-asking-yourself-why-so-and-so-acts-this-or-that-way/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [“Instead of asking, “Why is there war?” we might ask, “Why is there peace?” We can obsess not just over what we have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/instead-of-asking-why-is-there-war-we-might-ask-why-is-there-peace-we/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you meet someone for the first time instead of asking them what they do, you should ask them what they've always wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-clayton/when-you-meet-someone-for-the-first-time-instead-of-asking-them-what/) [Dallas Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-clayton/) > [Instead asking someone what to do.. ask ur heart first and do what it says..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-asking-someone-what-to-do-ask-ur-heart-first-and-do-what-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Instead of asking, “WHAT should we do to compete?” the questions must be asked, “WHY did we start doing WHAT we’re doing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/instead-of-asking-what-should-we-do-to-compete-the-questions-must-be/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [When I met with Deepak Chopra, instead of asking him for something, I offered something. You can always think of things that are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/when-i-met-with-deepak-chopra-instead-of-asking-him-for-something-i/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [Maybe instead of asking political candidates to submit tax returns, we really should be asking to see their brain scans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/maybe-instead-of-asking-political-candidates-to-submit-tax-returns-we/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [“Instead of asking yourself how you can change that aspect of you, maybe you should be asking yourself why you were created that way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-a-bartol/instead-of-asking-yourself-how-you-can-change-that-aspect-of-you/) [Amy A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-a-bartol/) > [More people should learn to tell their dollars where to go instead of asking them where they went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/more-people-should-learn-to-tell-their-dollars-where-to-go-instead-of/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [“Instead of asking life "why me?" I say "try me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantaye-brown/instead-of-asking-life-why-me-i-say-try-me/) Shantaye Brown ## More by John Eldredge > [To find God, you must look with all your heart. To remain present to God, you must remain present to your heart. To hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/to-find-god-you-must-look-with-all-your-heart-to-remain-present-to/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [ “There is a satisfaction we don't want to come to until we come to it in God…\[Disappointments\] serve to remind us every day that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/there-is-a-satisfaction-we-don-t-want-to-come-to-until-we-come-to-it/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The early Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit 'the wild goose.' And the reason why is they knew that you cannot tame him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-early-celtic-christians-called-the-holy-spirit-the-wild-goose-and/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The real you is on the side of God against the false self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-real-you-is-on-the-side-of-god-against-the-false-self/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“The authors challenge that the marriage in which one cannot express disappointment has become an idol – The Thing that Cannot Be Questioned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-authors-challenge-that-the-marriage-in-which-one-cannot-express/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [A man's calling is written on his true heart, and he discovers it when he enters the frontier of his deep desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/a-man-s-calling-is-written-on-his-true-heart-and-he-discovers-it-when/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [In the end, it doesn’t matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished—a life without heart is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/in-the-end-it-doesn-t-matter-how-well-we-have-performed-or-what-we/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [Whatever their age, most men have never received true fathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/whatever-their-age-most-men-have-never-received-true-fathering/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [I'm married. I have three children. I have a mortgage to pay. The plumbing breaks and the yard needs trimming. However, what my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-m-married-i-have-three-children-i-have-a-mortgage-to-pay-the/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“He is on a mission to rescue a people who are so utterly deceived most of them don’t even want to be rescued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/he-is-on-a-mission-to-rescue-a-people-who-are-so-utterly-deceived/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“Something has gone wrong in us, very wrong indeed. So wrong that we have to be told that joy is found not in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/something-has-gone-wrong-in-us-very-wrong-indeed-so-wrong-that-we/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“We don’t need accountability groups; we need fellow warriors, someone to fight alongside, someone to watch our back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/we-don-t-need-accountability-groups-we-need-fellow-warriors-someone/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [We don't see clearly because we don't see with the eyes of our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/we-don-t-see-clearly-because-we-don-t-see-with-the-eyes-of-our-heart/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-story-of-your-life-is-the-story-of-the-long-and-brutal-assault-on/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [I have a call to speak, to write, to do sort of deep-heart surgery in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-have-a-call-to-speak-to-write-to-do-sort-of-deep-heart-surgery-in/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) [Explore all 233 John Eldredge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is a woman—what is her design?' and, 'Why did God place Woman in our midst?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Eldredge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do-what-is-her-role-it-would-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do-what-is-her-role-it-would-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/john-eldredge-1487_asking_instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do_2715942.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is…” — John Eldredge", "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": "John Eldredge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Instead of asking, 'What should a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do-what-is-her-role-it-would-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/instead-of-asking-what-should-a-woman-do-what-is-her-role-it-would-be/#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 } } ] } ```