--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is quite idle (...) to insist so much…" description: "\"“It is quite idle (...) to insist so much on bodily strength, as a necessary qualification to military employments. And it is full as idle to imagine t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/lady-sophia-fermor-20567_18th-century_it-is-quite-idle-to-insist-so-much-on-bo_2687219.jpg" --- # It is quite idle (...) to insist so much on bodily… ![“It is quite idle (...) to insist so much on bodily strength, as a necessary qualification to military employments. And it is full as idle to imagine that Women are not naturally as capable of courage and resolution as the Men. We are indeed charged, without any exception, with being timorous, and…” quote by Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/lady-sophia-fermor-20567_18th-century_it-is-quite-idle-to-insist-so-much-on-bo_2687219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/lady-sophia-fermor-20567_18th-century_it-is-quite-idle-to-insist-so-much-on-bo_2687219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/lady-sophia-fermor-20567_18th-century_it-is-quite-idle-to-insist-so-much-on-bo_2687219.jpg) > ““It is quite idle (...) to insist so much on bodily strength, as a necessary qualification to military employments. And it is full as idle to imagine that Women are not naturally as capable of courage and resolution as the Men. We are indeed charged, without any exception, with being timorous, and incapable of defence; frighted at our own shadows; alarm'd at the cry of an infant, the bark of a dog, the whistling of the wind, or a tale of hob-goblins. But is this universally true? Are there not Men as void of courage as the most heartless of our sex? And yet it is known that the most timorous Women (...) often behave more courageously than the Men under pains, sickness, want, and the terrors of death itself.”” [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical strength isn’t the sole measure of courage; women can be equally brave. **In simple terms:** Courage isn’t only physical. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse forms of bravery. Themes gender equality courage stereotypes Mood critical empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military service - leadership - everyday challenges Key Concepts social constructs psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do we redefine courage beyond physical feats? - What examples challenge gendered assumptions? A Different Perspective Cultural bias may still undervalue women’s bravery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous-women/) [Double standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-standards/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Misogyny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misogyny/) [Patriarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchy/) [Strong women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-women/) [Warrior-women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warrior-women/) ## Related quotes > [“The Warrior Woman Code: A confident woman doesn't beg a man to stay, cry if they don't or need to tear down other women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-warrior-woman-code-a-confident-woman-doesn-t-beg-a-man-to-stay/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“(...) It is far from being true that all Women want courage, strength, or conduct to lead an army to triumph; any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/it-is-far-from-being-true-that-all-women-want-courage-strength-or/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [ “why it shou'd create more surprise, to see \[a lady\] preside in a council of war, than in a council of state. Why may… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/why-it-shou-d-create-more-surprise-to-see-a-lady-preside-in-a-council/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“If you believe you are capable, you find the courage to get it done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-you-believe-you-are-capable-you-find-the-courage-to-get-it-done/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [ “And the differences thence arising \[between the constitution of men and women\] are no ways sufficient to argue more natural strength in the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/and-the-differences-thence-arising-between-the-constitution-of-men/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“Don’t ever stray from yourself, in order to be close to someone that doesn’t have the courtesy to remind you of your worth, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-ever-stray-from-yourself-in-order-to-be-close-to-someone-that/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“But there will be no redemption for me. I will become the most unmerciful of murderers. I accept my fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-day-gilbert/but-there-will-be-no-redemption-for-me-i-will-become-the-most/) [Heather Day Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-day-gilbert/) > [“Dignity will only happen when you realize that having someone in your life doesn’t validate your worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/dignity-will-only-happen-when-you-realize-that-having-someone-in-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“The best don’t stick around when you treat them poorly, only the desperate do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-best-don-t-stick-around-when-you-treat-them-poorly-only-the/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Hide yourself in God, so when a man wants to find you he will have to go there first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/hide-yourself-in-god-so-when-a-man-wants-to-find-you-he-will-have-to/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Once you embrace your value, talents and strengths, it neutralizes when others think less of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/once-you-embrace-your-value-talents-and-strengths-it-neutralizes-when/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [“I have known friendship love, parental love, romantic love, family love and unrequited love in my life time, but the only love that made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/i-have-known-friendship-love-parental-love-romantic-love-family-love/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [“I am a great warrior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-am-a-great-warrior/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I am convinced that the jealous, the angry, the bitter and the egotistical are the first to race to the top of mountains. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/i-am-convinced-that-the-jealous-the-angry-the-bitter-and-the-2/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) ## More by Lady Sophia Fermor > [ “And the differences thence arising \[between the constitution of men and women\] are no ways sufficient to argue more natural strength in the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/and-the-differences-thence-arising-between-the-constitution-of-men/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“If from immemorable time, the Men had been so little envious, and so very impartial, as to do justice to our talents, by admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/if-from-immemorable-time-the-men-had-been-so-little-envious-and-so/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [ “I shou'd not myself have thought \[Cato\] worth so much notice as I have here taken of him; but that the Men are weak… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/i-shou-d-not-myself-have-thought-cato-worth-so-much-notice-as-i-have/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“it appears that there is no other difference between Men and Us than what their tyrany has created, it will then appear how unjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/it-appears-that-there-is-no-other-difference-between-men-and-us-than/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [ “Let us treat Women as our equals, (says \[the 'blubblering dotard' xD Cato\]) and they will immediately want to become our mistresses." 'Tis Cato… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/let-us-treat-women-as-our-equals-says-the-blubblering-dotard-xd-cato/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“The manner Women are bred in, (...) they are admitted to no share of the exercises which wou'd qualify them to attack or defend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/the-manner-women-are-bred-in-they-are-admitted-to-no-share-of-the/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“the many absurd notions the Men are led into by custom: Tho' there is none more absurd, than that of the great difference they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/the-many-absurd-notions-the-men-are-led-into-by-custom-tho-there-is/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“Where is there a Woman, who having generously trusted her liberty with a husband, does not immediately find the spaniel metamorphosed into a tyger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/where-is-there-a-woman-who-having-generously-trusted-her-liberty-with/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [ “We must be at least as well qualified as \[Men\] to teach the sciences; and if we are not seen in university chairs, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/we-must-be-at-least-as-well-qualified-as-men-to-teach-the-sciences/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“I think it evidently appears, that there is no science, office, or dignity, which Women have not an equal right to share in with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/i-think-it-evidently-appears-that-there-is-no-science-office-or/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“There are some however more condescending, and gracious enough to confess, that many Women have wit and conduct; but yet they are of opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/there-are-some-however-more-condescending-and-gracious-enough-to/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“Bare strength entitles the Men to no superiority above us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/bare-strength-entitles-the-men-to-no-superiority-above-us/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“Surely the Women were created (...) for some better end, than to labour in vain their whole life long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/surely-the-women-were-created-for-some-better-end-than-to-labour-in/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [ “Were we \[Women\] to express our conceptions of God, it wou'd never enter into the head of any one of us to describe him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/were-we-women-to-express-our-conceptions-of-god-it-wou-d-never-enter/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [“IT is enough for the Men to find a thing establish'd to make them believe it well grounded. In all countries we are seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/it-is-enough-for-the-men-to-find-a-thing-establish-d-to-make-them/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) [Explore all 30 Lady Sophia Fermor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) ## More 18th century quotes > [ “And the differences thence arising \[between the constitution of men and women\] are no ways sufficient to argue more natural strength in the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/and-the-differences-thence-arising-between-the-constitution-of-men/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [The lessons of the First Amendment are as urgent in the modern world as the 18th Century when it was written. One timeless lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/the-lessons-of-the-first-amendment-are-as-urgent-in-the-modern-world/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [ By 18th century standards, they \[Great Britain\] were the freest, most dynamic, most willing to challenge tradition and authority. They had the highest wages… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-morris/by-18th-century-standards-they-great-britain-were-the-freest-most/) [Charles R. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-morris/) > [“If from immemorable time, the Men had been so little envious, and so very impartial, as to do justice to our talents, by admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/if-from-immemorable-time-the-men-had-been-so-little-envious-and-so/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [Compare the scale and magnifcence of Versailles with St James's - the brick-built hovel in which the 18th-century kings of England lived. What was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/compare-the-scale-and-magnifcence-of-versailles-with-st-james-s-the/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Newt Gingrich wants to repeal child labor laws. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the man that we need to lead us into the 18th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/newt-gingrich-wants-to-repeal-child-labor-laws-ladies-and-gentlemen/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [ “I shou'd not myself have thought \[Cato\] worth so much notice as I have here taken of him; but that the Men are weak… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/i-shou-d-not-myself-have-thought-cato-worth-so-much-notice-as-i-have/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [The theory of social contracts extends as far back as Plato. However, it was the great 18th century social philosophers John Locke, Thomas Hobbes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-theory-of-social-contracts-extends-as-far-back-as-plato-however/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [To my three sons, Peter, Scott, and Alexander who pulled me from the 18th Century and back into the present on a regular basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/to-my-three-sons-peter-scott-and-alexander-who-pulled-me-from-the/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > ["The Constitution" has something called The Emoluments Clause. That's just a fancy, 18th century word for no foreign government payments. And Donald Trump is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-l-eisen/the-constitution-has-something-called-the-emoluments-clause-that-s/) [Norman L. Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-l-eisen/) > [The word 'America' probably didn't appear in the Persian language until the end of the 18th century - but then with a documented past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/the-word-america-probably-didn-t-appear-in-the-persian-language-until/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [The United States may have retained more of the intellectual imprint of the British 18th century than Britain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rees-mogg/the-united-states-may-have-retained-more-of-the-intellectual-imprint/) [William Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rees-mogg/) > [I think I'm from the 18th century, not even the 19th. I don't even use a typewriter. I prefer longhand, and that's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/i-think-i-m-from-the-18th-century-not-even-the-19th-i-don-t-even-use/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [You need some reason why Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn in the 18th century all flocked to Vienna. What was it about Vienna? They must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/you-need-some-reason-why-beethoven-mozart-and-haydn-in-the-18th/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) Browse all 180 18th century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is quite idle (...) to insist so much on bodily strength, as a necessary qualification to military employments. And it is full as idle to imagine that Women are not naturally as capable of courage and resolution as the Men. 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