--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can conceive of nothing worse than a…" description: "\"I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.\" — Nancy Astor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg" --- # I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world… ![“I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.” quote by Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg) > “I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.” [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that both male and female ruled societies have flaws, implying no gender offers a perfect governance model. **In simple terms:** Both male and female rule have problems; no gender is a cure‑all. Key Takeaway Seek balanced, inclusive leadership rather than gender‑based solutions. Themes gender leadership politics Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - organizational leadership - social movements Key Concepts feminism power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a ruler effective beyond gender? - How can diverse perspectives improve governance? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on gender may overlook other systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I had kissed the monster who governed our world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-hodge/i-had-kissed-the-monster-who-governed-our-world/) [Rosamund Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-hodge/) > [He who governed the world before I was born shall take care of it likewise when I am dead. My part is to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/he-who-governed-the-world-before-i-was-born-shall-take-care-of-it/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“I'm your wife. You should have come to me. When I have ever not been there to help you? He shook his head, telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-giardina/i-m-your-wife-you-should-have-come-to-me-when-i-have-ever-not-been/) [Courtney Giardina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-giardina/) > [When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-than-a-man-and-when-he-is-worst/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Worse is man who abandons himself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-gupta/worse-is-man-who-abandons-himself/) [Amit Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-gupta/) > [I know of no condition worse than that of the man who has little or no light on the supreme religious questions, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-fitch-burr/i-know-of-no-condition-worse-than-that-of-the-man-who-has-little-or/) Enoch Fitch Burr > [Is it fair to treat a woman worse than a man, and then revile her because she is a woman?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/is-it-fair-to-treat-a-woman-worse-than-a-man-and-then-revile-her/) [Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/) > [Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/never-stir-up-litigation-a-worse-man-can-scarcely-be-found-than-one/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little is worse than a man who never attempts to read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keorapetse-phelelo/any-man-who-reads-too-much-and-uses-his-own-brain-too-little-is-worse/) Keorapetse Phelelo > [When you take a man as he is, you make him worse. When you take a man as he can be, you make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-you-take-a-man-as-he-is-you-make-him-worse-when-you-take-a-man/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There's only one thing worse than a man who doesn't have strong likes and dislikes, and that's a man who has strong likes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-randall/there-s-only-one-thing-worse-than-a-man-who-doesn-t-have-strong-likes/) [Tony Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-randall/) > [The worse the man, the better the soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-worse-the-man-the-better-the-soldier/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“One man, she thought then, could build or destroy, could change time and history, for better or worse. One man. Or one woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-o-neal/one-man-she-thought-then-could-build-or-destroy-could-change-time-and/) [Barbara O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-o-neal/) > [Society than solitude is worse, And man to man is still the greatest curse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/society-than-solitude-is-worse-and-man-to-man-is-still-the-greatest/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [“But when a god             strikes harm, a worse man often foils his better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-when-a-god-strikes-harm-a-worse-man-often-foils-his-better/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More by Nancy Astor > [People who talk about peace are very often the most quarrelsome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/people-who-talk-about-peace-are-very-often-the-most-quarrelsome/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [Jakie, is it my birthday or am I dying ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/jakie-is-it-my-birthday-or-am-i-dying/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [Nobody wants me as a Cabinet Minister and they are perfectly right. I am an agitator, not an administrator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/nobody-wants-me-as-a-cabinet-minister-and-they-are-perfectly-right-i/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [I used to dread getting older because I thought I would not be able to do all the things I wanted to do, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-used-to-dread-getting-older-because-i-thought-i-would-not-be-able/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [I would rather commit adultery than drink a glass of beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-would-rather-commit-adultery-than-drink-a-glass-of-beer/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [“Am I dying, or is this my birthday?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/am-i-dying-or-is-this-my-birthday/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [I refuse to admit that I am more than 52, even if that makes my children illegitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-refuse-to-admit-that-i-am-more-than-52-even-if-that-makes-my/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [There is no such thing as a strictly woman's problem. Any question affecting the welfare of society is a woman's problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-strictly-woman-s-problem-any-question/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [Drink promises you everything, but gives nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/drink-promises-you-everything-but-gives-nothing/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [My vigor, vitality and cheek repel me. I am the kind of woman I would run from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/my-vigor-vitality-and-cheek-repel-me-i-am-the-kind-of-woman-i-would/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [I refuse to admit that I am more than fifty-two, even if that does make my sons illegitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-refuse-to-admit-that-i-am-more-than-fifty-two-even-if-that-does/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [In passing, also, I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/in-passing-also-i-would-like-to-say-that-the-first-time-adam-had-a/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [Years ago, I thought old age would be dreadful, because I should not be able to do things I would want to do. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/years-ago-i-thought-old-age-would-be-dreadful-because-i-should-not-be/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [The first time Adam had a chance, he laid the blame on women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/the-first-time-adam-had-a-chance-he-laid-the-blame-on-women/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [One reason I don't drink is that I want to know when I am having a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/one-reason-i-don-t-drink-is-that-i-want-to-know-when-i-am-having-a/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) [Explore all 38 Nancy Astor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Astor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-man-governed-world-except-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feminism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-man-governed-world-except-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/nancy-astor-16977_i-can_i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-m_1370177.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.” — Nancy Astor", "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": "Nancy Astor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can conceive of nothing worse...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-man-governed-world-except-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-man-governed-world-except-a/#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 } } ] } ```