Buried Quote by John Gabriel Stedman
“Such indeed is the superior longevity of the fair females of Surinam, compared to that of the males (owing chiefly, as I said, to their excesses of all sorts) that I have frequently known wives who have buried four husbands, but never met a man in this country who had survived two wives.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Narrative of a Seven Years' Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, 1791
The quote humorously notes that women in Surinam tend to outlive men, partly because of their indulgent lifestyles, and that men rarely survive multiple wives.
In simple terms: Women outlive men, often due to their habits; men seldom outlive two wives.
Key Takeaway
Recognize gender health differences and lifestyle impacts.
Themes
gender
health
longevity
humor
social observation
Mood
wry
reflective
informative
Type
observational
humorous
historical
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- public health planning
- historical research
- gender studies
Key Concepts
demography
mortality
cultural norms
Questions to Reflect On
- What cultural or environmental factors contribute to this disparity?
- How reliable are personal anecdotes for demographic conclusions?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may exaggerate and ignore other factors like disease, socioeconomic status, and bias.
![“Perhaps [the critics are right and] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and entertaining to consider that at least once in the world's history those words might have been said with complete conviction, and that was on the eve of the Resurrection.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/467/dorothy-l-sayers-738_buried_perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-dr_43252.jpg)
