--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world has never yet seen a truly…" description: "\"The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their sou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png" --- # The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous… ![“The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source. We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.” quote by Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png) > “The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source. We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.” [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal decline stems from devaluing women, corrupting the source of life and truth. **In simple terms:** Devaluing women harms society. Key Takeaway Respect and empower women. Themes gender equality social justice human dignity Mood concerned determined Type advocacy philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - policy making - community leadership - family dynamics Key Concepts feminism collective responsibility ethical stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions prioritize women's empowerment? - What policies can protect the "fountains of life"? A Different Perspective Change requires systemic shifts, not just individual attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authorities Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authorities-truth-3574876/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Poisoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-poisoned-3574874/) [Nation Degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-degradation-3574875/) [Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous/) [Virtuous Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-nation-644192/) ## Related quotes > [The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women, the very fountains of life are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/we-too-often-bind-ourselves-by-authorities-rather-than-by-the-truth/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Myths have a certain staying power because, really, they are aspirational - not always who we are, but always who we want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/myths-have-a-certain-staying-power-because-really-they-are/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [There is no cure for the pride of a virtuous nation but pure religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-is-no-cure-for-the-pride-of-a-virtuous-nation-but-pure-religion/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [“Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about is the great discovery I have made lately--the discovery that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/dr-stockmann-i-have-already-told-you-that-what-i-want-to-speak-about/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“He was a respected high school English teacher and he had never in his life poisoned his mind with drugs.  He didn’t even drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-harmon/he-was-a-respected-high-school-english-teacher-and-he-had-never-in/) [Brian Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-harmon/) > [“They had supper and went away, and Ivan Ilyich was left alone with the consciousness that his life was poisoned and was poisoning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-had-supper-and-went-away-and-ivan-ilyich-was-left-alone-with-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The cup of life was poisoned forever, and although the sun shone upon me, as upon the happy and gay of heart, I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/the-cup-of-life-was-poisoned-forever-and-although-the-sun-shone-upon/) [Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/) > [Every virtuous man is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philo/every-virtuous-man-is-free/) [Philo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philo/) > [No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent-how-highly-educated-how/) [Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Show me a person without prejudice of any kind on any subject and I'll show you someone who may be admirably virtuous but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-lacy/show-me-a-person-without-prejudice-of-any-kind-on-any-subject-and-i/) [Allen Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-lacy/) > [All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/all-morality-depends-upon-our-sentiments-and-when-any-action-or/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Discipline is not a virtue, but the solicitor of virtuous character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/discipline-is-not-a-virtue-but-the-solicitor-of-virtuous-character/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) ## More by Lucretia Mott > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/woman-has-so-long-been-subject-to-the-disabilities-and-restrictions/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I resolved to claim for my sex all that an impartial Creator had bestowed, which, by custom and a perverted application of the Scriptures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-resolved-to-claim-for-my-sex-all-that-an-impartial-creator-had/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [The cause of Peace has had my share of efforts, taking the ultra non-resistance ground - that a Christian cannot consistently uphold, and actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-cause-of-peace-has-had-my-share-of-efforts-taking-the-ultra-non/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [the Law has made the man and wife one person, and that one person the husband!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-law-has-made-the-man-and-wife-one-person-and-that-one-person-the/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [In the marriage union, the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/in-the-marriage-union-the-independence-of-the-husband-and-wife-will/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Those who go forth ministering to the wants and necessities of their fellow beings experience a rich return, their souls being as a watered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/those-who-go-forth-ministering-to-the-wants-and-necessities-of-their/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [It is not Christianity, but priestcraft that has subjected woman as we find her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-not-christianity-but-priestcraft-that-has-subjected-woman-as-we/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I have no idea of submitting tamely to injustice inflicted either on me or on the slave. I will oppose it with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-have-no-idea-of-submitting-tamely-to-injustice-inflicted-either-on/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ. Were this sentiment generally admitted we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/it-is-time-that-christians-were-judged-more-by-their-likeness-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [... my convictions led me to adhere to the sufficiency of the light within us, resting on truth as authority, rather than 'taking authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/my-convictions-led-me-to-adhere-to-the-sufficiency-of-the-light/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women, the very fountains of life are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Women's property has been taxed, equally with that of men's, to sustain colleges endowed by the states; but they have not been permitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/women-s-property-has-been-taxed-equally-with-that-of-men-s-to-sustain/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Let woman then go on-not asking favors, but claiming as a right the removal of all hindrances to her elevation in the scale of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/let-woman-then-go-on-not-asking-favors-but-claiming-as-a-right-the/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I long for the day my sisters will rise, and occupy the sphere to which they are called by their high nature and destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/i-long-for-the-day-my-sisters-will-rise-and-occupy-the-sphere-to/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) [Explore all 32 Lucretia Mott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [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/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [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/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source. We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucretia Mott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/lucretia-mott-19637_life_the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-gre_2008535.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very…” — Lucretia Mott", "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": "Lucretia Mott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world has never yet seen...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-world-has-never-yet-seen-a-truly-great-and-virtuous-nation-2/#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 } } ] } ```