18th century Quote by Lady Sophia Fermor
““I wou'd therefore exhort all my sex (...) to betake themselves to the improvement of their minds (...) and (...) shew our selves worthy something from them, as much above their bare esteem, as they conceit themselves above us. In a word, let us shew them, by what little we do without aid of education, the much we might do if they did us justice; that we may force a blush from them, if possible, and compel them to confess their own baseness to us, and that the worst of us deserve much better treatment than the best of us receive.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Female Education Advocacy, 1790
She urges women to demonstrate their worth through self-improvement and education, challenging male assumptions of superiority.
In simple terms: Women should prove their value by learning and acting.
Pursue education to earn respect.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing
- community leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What obstacles do women face in accessing education?
- How can self-improvement shift power dynamics?
Societal biases may persist despite individual effort.