--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women ought not to know their own wit…" description: "\"Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will still be showing it, and so spoil it.\" — John Selden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/john-selden-7457_knows_women-ought-not-to-know-their-own-wit-be_2127310.jpg" --- # Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will… ![“Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will still be showing it, and so spoil it.” quote by John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/john-selden-7457_knows_women-ought-not-to-know-their-own-wit-be_2127310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/john-selden-7457_knows_women-ought-not-to-know-their-own-wit-be_2127310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/john-selden-7457_knows_women-ought-not-to-know-their-own-wit-be_2127310.jpg) > “Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will still be showing it, and so spoil it.” [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women are discouraged from displaying wit, implying that showing intelligence can be socially damaging. **In simple terms:** Women should hide intelligence. Key Takeaway Suppress wit to avoid criticism. Themes gender society communication Mood critical historical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - workplace meetings - public speaking - social gatherings - online forums Key Concepts wit self‑censorship social norms Questions to Reflect On - Is it still relevant to hide intelligence? - What are the costs of suppressing wit? A Different Perspective Modern contexts often celebrate wit, making this view outdated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Know Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-wit-4317916/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-know-632067/) [Showing Spoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-spoil-4369283/) [Spoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoil/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wit Showing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit-showing-4369282/) [Women Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-ought-899553/) ## Related quotes > [“I think it should be done over, Buddy. …Please make peace with your wit. It's not going to go away, Buddy. 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