--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will you not covet such power as this…" description: "\"Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? There is no putting by that crown; queens y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/john-ruskin-314_alas_will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-an_213254.jpg" --- # Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such… ![“Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? There is no putting by that crown; queens you must always be; queens to your lovers; queens to your husbands and sons; queens of higher mystery to the world beyond. . . . But alas! you are…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/john-ruskin-314_alas_will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-an_213254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/john-ruskin-314_alas_will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-an_213254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/john-ruskin-314_alas_will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-an_213254.jpg) > “Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? There is no putting by that crown; queens you must always be; queens to your lovers; queens to your husbands and sons; queens of higher mystery to the world beyond. . . . But alas! you are too often idle and careless queens, grasping at majesty in the least things, while you abdicate it in the greatest.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calls for individuals, especially women, to claim authority and purpose beyond domestic roles, warning against idle misuse of power. **In simple terms:** Encourages empowerment, warns against neglecting true responsibility. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful influence, avoid superficial authority. Themes empowerment gender roles authority responsibility identity Mood thoughtful challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership positions - community service - personal development - activism - education Key Concepts feminism social critique self-actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does true leadership mean to you? - How can power be exercised responsibly? A Different Perspective May idealize power without addressing systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Housewife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/housewife/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Queens you must always be: queens to your lovers; queens to your husbands and your sons, queens of higher mystery to the world beyond.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/queens-you-must-always-be-queens-to-your-lovers-queens-to-your/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [You were made for enjoyment, and the world was filled with things which you will enjoy, unless you are too proud to be pleased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-were-made-for-enjoyment-and-the-world-was-filled-with-things/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [You might be a redneck if you work with a shirt off... and so does your husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-work-with-a-shirt-off-and-so-does-your/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [One of the greatest threats to your husband's position of priority would be if you were to earnestly pursue a career... If you finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-andelin/one-of-the-greatest-threats-to-your-husband-s-position-of-priority/) [Helen Andelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-andelin/) > [If your husband has difficulty getting to sleep, the words 'we need to talk about our relationship' may help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/if-your-husband-has-difficulty-getting-to-sleep-the-words-we-need-to/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Even though there were three newspapers in Chicago at the time, he said 'you wouldn't want to compete with your husband," and so instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/even-though-there-were-three-newspapers-in-chicago-at-the-time-he/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [suppose you invest time and effort in designing a new image for yourself. You get home and your husband takes one look and screams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-graham/suppose-you-invest-time-and-effort-in-designing-a-new-image-for/) [Virginia Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-graham/) > [It’s not great when your husband thinks the only guy who can talk to you, is some other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-eriksson/it-s-not-great-when-your-husband-thinks-the-only-guy-who-can-talk-to/) [Jonas Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-eriksson/) > [I'm a modern girl, but you should put your husband first. I like to think divorce is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/i-m-a-modern-girl-but-you-should-put-your-husband-first-i-like-to/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [The challenges that I face today are the same challenges we all face. Trying to balance your life between work, family, loved ones, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-challenges-that-i-face-today-are-the-same-challenges-we-all-face/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Divorce is never easy, but it's even more painful when you find out your husband is having an affair with a beautiful model fifteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alana-stewart/divorce-is-never-easy-but-it-s-even-more-painful-when-you-find-out/) [Alana Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alana-stewart/) > [Your relationship with your husband should be an important part of your private life, but publicly you should be able to define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/your-relationship-with-your-husband-should-be-an-important-part-of/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I never ever, ever say anything against my husband to anyone except my husband. Everyone gets in fights, and I think the natural propensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/i-never-ever-ever-say-anything-against-my-husband-to-anyone-except-my/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [If you want a successful marriage, let your husband do what he wants to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-want-a-successful-marriage-let-your-husband-do-what-he-wants/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) Browse all 453 Alas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? 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