--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was dangerous talk—in these…" description: "\"“This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise woman would never be too clever. The accusation of witchcraft had rid many men of an ugly w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg" --- # This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise… ![“This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise woman would never be too clever. The accusation of witchcraft had rid many men of an ugly wife and yet more women of an attractive rival.” quote by Joss Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg) > ““This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise woman would never be too clever. The accusation of witchcraft had rid many men of an ugly wife and yet more women of an attractive rival.”” Joss Alexander ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques that clever women were feared and labeled witches, reflecting gender bias in historical accusations. **In simple terms:** Intelligent women were unjustly condemned. Key Takeaway Challenge gender stereotypes. Themes history gender power Mood reflective critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - academic curricula - media representation - legal reforms Key Concepts feminist theory social injustice Questions to Reflect On - Why does society fear intelligent women? - How can we rewrite such narratives? A Different Perspective Some may argue cleverness is threatening, not just gendered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tudor/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-woman/) [Witchcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witchcraft/) ## Related quotes > [“Throughout these centuries, those who should, by their birth, training, and position, have been the conscience of the world, accepted the delusion and promoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rossell-hope-robbins/throughout-these-centuries-those-who-should-by-their-birth-training/) Rossell Hope Robbins > [“Outside, a cry fell through the night like a dying star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/outside-a-cry-fell-through-the-night-like-a-dying-star/) Joss Alexander > [Someone who eats pancakes and jam can't be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/someone-who-eats-pancakes-and-jam-can-t-be-so-awfully-dangerous-you/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“Damen knew that he had to lie. It was beyond dangerous to talk about this with Laurent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/damen-knew-that-he-had-to-lie-it-was-beyond-dangerous-to-talk-about/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [It's dangerous to talk too much about future fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amir-khan/it-s-dangerous-to-talk-too-much-about-future-fights/) [Amir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amir-khan/) > [Being in love is dangerous because you talk yourself into thinking you've never had it so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-salle/being-in-love-is-dangerous-because-you-talk-yourself-into-thinking/) [David Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-salle/) > [“I speak this way because I know how perilous speech can be… A saber might be stopped by a shield. A bullet might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-m-beckett/i-speak-this-way-because-i-know-how-perilous-speech-can-be-a-saber/) Galen M. Beckett > [It is extremely dangerous to talk about limits or borders. It is vital, instead, that we remain completely open, that we are always involved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-fo/it-is-extremely-dangerous-to-talk-about-limits-or-borders-it-is-vital/) [Dario Fo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-fo/) > [A word is all it takes to put a man in prison, or to seize his property, or to end his life. A saber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-beckett/a-word-is-all-it-takes-to-put-a-man-in-prison-or-to-seize-his/) [Galen Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-beckett/) > [If it's dangerous to talk to yourself, it's probably even dicier to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/if-it-s-dangerous-to-talk-to-yourself-it-s-probably-even-dicier-to/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [“He who gives back at first repulse and without striking the second blow, despairs success, has never been, is not, and never will be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-weightman/he-who-gives-back-at-first-repulse-and-without-striking-the-second/) Gavin Weightman > [We have a lot to learn from the Tudor education system. It had diversity, placed rigorous demands on its students, and encouraged high achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/we-have-a-lot-to-learn-from-the-tudor-education-system-it-had/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [London matters to me because it's the center of what I do for a living and has been since Tudor times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/london-matters-to-me-because-it-s-the-center-of-what-i-do-for-a/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I love all history because it’s storytelling. But, I will always have a special place in my heart for the Tudor dynasty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/i-love-all-history-because-it-s-storytelling-but-i-will-always-have-a/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“There are women that men marry and there are women that men don't," Anne pronouned. "And you are the sort of mistress a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/there-are-women-that-men-marry-and-there-are-women-that-men-don-t/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More by Joss Alexander > [“And finally, she saw him smile. It chased the shadows from his face and made him a boy again. It was a smile that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/and-finally-she-saw-him-smile-it-chased-the-shadows-from-his-face-and/) Joss Alexander > [“Outside, a cry fell through the night like a dying star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/outside-a-cry-fell-through-the-night-like-a-dying-star/) Joss Alexander Explore all 3 Joss Alexander quotes ## More Time quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) [Browse all 215,255 Time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise woman would never be too clever. The accusation of witchcraft had rid many men of an ugly wife and yet more women of an attractive rival.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joss Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlightened-times-a-wise-woman-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlightened-times-a-wise-woman-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/joss-alexander-79616_time_this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlight_893785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened times, a wise woman would never be too clever. The accusation…” — Joss Alexander", "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": "Joss Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This was dangerous talk—in these enlightened...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlightened-times-a-wise-woman-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-alexander/this-was-dangerous-talk-in-these-enlightened-times-a-wise-woman-would/#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 } } ] } ```