--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I scarcely remember any writer who has…" description: "\"I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to say that the half of the work of the world is actually accomplished by women; and very few husb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg" --- # I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to… ![“I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to say that the half of the work of the world is actually accomplished by women; and very few husbands who would be otherwise than greatly startled and amazed, if not indignant, if not derisive, at the suggestion of such an idea as that the work…” quote by Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg) > “I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to say that the half of the work of the world is actually accomplished by women; and very few husbands who would be otherwise than greatly startled and amazed, if not indignant, if not derisive, at the suggestion of such an idea as that the work of their wives was equal to their own.” [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how women’s contributions are undervalued and how men often react with surprise or contempt when faced with gender equality. **In simple terms:** Women’s work is often ignored, shocking men when recognized. Key Takeaway Recognize and value women’s labor equally. Themes gender equality recognition social bias Mood reflective critical Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - workplace policies - family dynamics - historical analysis Key Concepts Patriarchal norms economic contribution Questions to Reflect On - What steps can societies take to acknowledge women’s work? - How do cultural narratives affect perceptions of gender roles? A Different Perspective May overlook intersectional differences among women. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Accomplished Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished-women-1058985/) [Amazed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazed/) [Amazed Indignant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazed-indignant-5239936/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Husbands Greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husbands-greatly-5239937/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indignant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indignant/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wives Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wives-equal-3355156/) [Women Husbands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-husbands-1037987/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Husbands and wives are equal partners. They have different but complementary responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-l-cook/husbands-and-wives-are-equal-partners-they-have-different-but/) [Quentin L. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-l-cook/) > [I am thrilled and honored to have a seat at the table for meaningful conversation with so many accomplished women in the sports world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-am-thrilled-and-honored-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-for-meaningful/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [“It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "How young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are." "All young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-amazing-to-me-said-bingley-how-young-ladies-can-have-patience/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-am-no-longer-surprised-at-your-knowing-only-six-accomplished-women/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [My sorority was filled with amazing, different, accomplished women across all fields. We had athletes, entrepreneurs. We had women who were killing it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyler-samuels/my-sorority-was-filled-with-amazing-different-accomplished-women/) [Skyler Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyler-samuels/) > [“But the main problem with our marriages was not that our husbands wouldn’t share the housework but that we were unbelievably irritable young women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/but-the-main-problem-with-our-marriages-was-not-that-our-husbands/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Plain women are always jealous of their husbands. Beautiful women never are. They are always so occupied with being jealous of other women's husbands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/plain-women-are-always-jealous-of-their-husbands-beautiful-women/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [How many women are there ... who because of their husbands' harshness spend their weary lives in the bond of marriage in greater suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/how-many-women-are-there-who-because-of-their-husbands-harshness/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Perhaps I'm just fickle by nature and get tired of countries the way other women do of husbands or lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/perhaps-i-m-just-fickle-by-nature-and-get-tired-of-countries-the-way/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [The women who take husbands not out of love but out of greed, to get their bills paid, to get a fine house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-adler/the-women-who-take-husbands-not-out-of-love-but-out-of-greed-to-get/) [Polly Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-adler/) > [Too often people enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought, never taking a principled stand. True justice will never come until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kweisi-mfume/too-often-people-enjoy-the-comfort-of-opinion-without-the-discomfort/) [Kweisi Mfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kweisi-mfume/) > [You must learn day by day, year by year to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-barrymore/you-must-learn-day-by-day-year-by-year-to-broaden-your-horizon-the/) [Ethel Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-barrymore/) > [How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?' she whispered, after some time of delicious silence. 'Let me speak to her.' 'Oh, no! I owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/how-shall-i-ever-tell-aunt-shaw-she-whispered-after-some-time-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Your indignant behavior over the slightest perceived gender inequality makes it almost certain that inequality is what you masturbate to at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-thomas/your-indignant-behavior-over-the-slightest-perceived-gender/) [Kitty Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-thomas/) > [Many a cat can only be lured in by switching off all the lights and keeping very still. Until the indignant cry of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/many-a-cat-can-only-be-lured-in-by-switching-off-all-the-lights-and/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) ## More by Margaret Oliphant > [What happiness is there which is not purchased with more or less of pain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/what-happiness-is-there-which-is-not-purchased-with-more-or-less-of/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [I think reading a novel is almost next best to having something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/i-think-reading-a-novel-is-almost-next-best-to-having-something-to-do/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [All perfection is melancholy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/all-perfection-is-melancholy/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [Married people do stand up so for each other when you say a word, however they may fight between themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/married-people-do-stand-up-so-for-each-other-when-you-say-a-word/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [“Don’t you think a certain amount of civilisation is necessary before picture-frames will become remunerative? I don’t think you could live by them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/don-t-you-think-a-certain-amount-of-civilisation-is-necessary-before/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [there are some people who never learn; indeed, few people learn by experience, so far as I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/there-are-some-people-who-never-learn-indeed-few-people-learn-by/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [As for pictures and museums, that don't trouble me. The worst of going abroad is that you've always got to look at things of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/as-for-pictures-and-museums-that-don-t-trouble-me-the-worst-of-going/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [“The village lay in the hollow, and climbed, with very prosaic houses, the other side. Village architecture does not flourish in Scotland. The blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/the-village-lay-in-the-hollow-and-climbed-with-very-prosaic-houses/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [Next to happiness, perhaps enmity is the most healthful stimulant of the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/next-to-happiness-perhaps-enmity-is-the-most-healthful-stimulant-of/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [“And there has been no attempt to investigate it,' I said, 'to see what it really is?' 'Eh, Cornel,' said the coachman's wife, 'wha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/and-there-has-been-no-attempt-to-investigate-it-i-said-to-see-what-it/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [To have a man who can flirt is next thing to indispensable to a leader of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/to-have-a-man-who-can-flirt-is-next-thing-to-indispensable-to-a/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [For everybody knows that it requires very little to satisfy the gentlemen, if a woman will only give her mind to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/for-everybody-knows-that-it-requires-very-little-to-satisfy-the/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [The ideal is the flower-garden of the mind, and very apt to run to weeds unless carefully tended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/the-ideal-is-the-flower-garden-of-the-mind-and-very-apt-to-run-to/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [Laughing is not the first expression of joy. ... A person laughs in idleness, for fun, not for joy. Joy has nothing, nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/laughing-is-not-the-first-expression-of-joy-a-person-laughs-in/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [“It was getting dark by the time I went out, and nobody who knows the country will need to be told how black is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/it-was-getting-dark-by-the-time-i-went-out-and-nobody-who-knows-the/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) [Explore all 51 Margaret Oliphant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) [Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to say that the half of the work of the world is actually accomplished by women; and very few husbands who would be otherwise than greatly startled and amazed, if not indignant, if not derisive, at the suggestion of such an idea as that the work of their wives was equal to their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Oliphant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-ever-ventured-to-say-that-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-ever-ventured-to-say-that-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/margaret-oliphant-13259_accomplished_i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-e_3078368.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I scarcely remember any writer who has ever ventured to say that the half of the work of the world is…” — Margaret Oliphant", "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": "Margaret Oliphant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I scarcely remember any writer who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-ever-ventured-to-say-that-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/i-scarcely-remember-any-writer-who-has-ever-ventured-to-say-that-the/#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 } } ] } ```