--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I consider it presumption in anyone to…" description: "\"“I consider it presumption in anyone to pretend to decide what women are or are not, can or cannot be, by natural constitution. They have always hither..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/john-stuart-mill-477_nature_i-consider-it-presumption-in-anyone-to-p_869562.png" --- # I consider it presumption in anyone to pretend to decide… ![“I consider it presumption in anyone to pretend to decide what women are or are not, can or cannot be, by natural constitution. They have always hitherto been kept, as far as regards spontaneous development, in so unnatural a state, that their nature cannot but have been greatly distorted and…” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/john-stuart-mill-477_nature_i-consider-it-presumption-in-anyone-to-p_869562.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/john-stuart-mill-477_nature_i-consider-it-presumption-in-anyone-to-p_869562.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/john-stuart-mill-477_nature_i-consider-it-presumption-in-anyone-to-p_869562.png) > ““I consider it presumption in anyone to pretend to decide what women are or are not, can or cannot be, by natural constitution. They have always hitherto been kept, as far as regards spontaneous development, in so unnatural a state, that their nature cannot but have been greatly distorted and disguised; and no one can safely pronounce that if women’s nature were left to choose its direction as freely as men’s, and if no artificial bent were attempted to be given to it except that required by the conditions of human society, and given to both sexes alike, there would be any material difference, or perhaps any difference at all, in the character and capacities which would unfold themselves.”” [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that gender differences are socially constructed, not natural, and that women would have similar capacities if given equal freedom. **In simple terms:** Gender roles are socially imposed, not innate. Key Takeaway Promote equal opportunities for all genders. Themes gender equality social construct freedom capacity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - education policy - workplace equality - legal reforms - family dynamics - media representation Key Concepts socialization equality nature vs nurture Questions to Reflect On - What social structures enforce gender roles? - How can we measure true capacity without bias? A Different Perspective Resistance from entrenched traditions may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“At what point did men decide that women are "on the market" to "be picked?" "Pick me! Pick me!" Oh really? 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They just need opportunities and access.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-have-always-believed-women-have-so-many-natural-leadership/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [Men lie for fun, women are natural born liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kel/men-lie-for-fun-women-are-natural-born-liars/) [Don Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kel/) > [Women's natural role is to be a pillar of the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-kelly/women-s-natural-role-is-to-be-a-pillar-of-the-family/) [Grace Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-kelly/) ## More by John Stuart Mill > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Liberty lies in the rights of that person whose views you find most odious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/liberty-lies-in-the-rights-of-that-person-whose-views-you-find-most/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Truth emerges from the clash of adverse ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/truth-emerges-from-the-clash-of-adverse-ideas/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“No longer enslaved or made dependent by force of law, the great majority are so by force of poverty; they are still chained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/no-longer-enslaved-or-made-dependent-by-force-of-law-the-great/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [All acts suppose certain dispositions, and habits of mind and heart, which may be in themselves states of enjoyment or of wretchedness, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-acts-suppose-certain-dispositions-and-habits-of-mind-and-heart/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Unfortunately for the good sense of mankind, the fact of their fallibility is far from carrying the weight in their practical judgement, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/unfortunately-for-the-good-sense-of-mankind-the-fact-of-their/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“In history, as in traveling, men usually see only what they already had in their own minds; and few learn much from history, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/in-history-as-in-traveling-men-usually-see-only-what-they-already-had/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [All errors which a man is likely to commit against advice are far outweighed by the evil of allowing others to constrain him for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/all-errors-which-a-man-is-likely-to-commit-against-advice-are-far/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The successful conduct of an industrial enterprise requires two quite distinct qualifications: fidelity and zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-successful-conduct-of-an-industrial-enterprise-requires-two-quite/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [ “\[For people\] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opinion-because-they-are-sure/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [This is what writers mean when they say that the notion of cause involves the idea of necessity. 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