--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like Adam, our first conspicuous…" description: "\"Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin, and lay the blame upon a woman; I am glad to recognize that I differ from the father of my sex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg" --- # Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin… ![“Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin, and lay the blame upon a woman; I am glad to recognize that I differ from the father of my sex in no important particular, being as manlike as most of his sons.” quote by Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg) > “Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin, and lay the blame upon a woman; I am glad to recognize that I differ from the father of my sex in no important particular, being as manlike as most of his sons.” [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker blames a woman for differences from the paternal line, reflecting gendered blame and self‑identity. **In simple terms:** I blame a woman for my differences from my father. Key Takeaway Examine gender biases in self‑identity. Themes gender blame identity family dynamics Mood critical analytical Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - family discussions - gender studies - personal essays Key Concepts patriarchy self‑reflection gender roles Questions to Reflect On - How do gender narratives shape your self‑view? - Can you reframe blame constructively? A Different Perspective May perpetuate stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) ## Related quotes > [“I stood like Adam in his lonely garden On that first morning, shaken out of sleep, Rubbing his eyes, listening, parting the leaves, Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-stood-like-adam-in-his-lonely-garden-on-that-first-morning-shaken/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [I'm lonely like Adam and you're evil like Eve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-m-lonely-like-adam-and-you-re-evil-like-eve/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [“Some surprises are okay. Like you." (Adam)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-f-morgan/some-surprises-are-okay-like-you-adam/) Teresa F Morgan > [Adam Roberts is an original: smart, funny, talented, endlessly inquisitive, an A student and, happily for us, an A+ teacher. Everyone from beginner cooks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorie-greenspan/adam-roberts-is-an-original-smart-funny-talented-endlessly/) [Dorie Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorie-greenspan/) > [We're these guys that are very tech-savvy, so people tend to expect us to say our favorite gadgets are thing like the latest iPhone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/we-re-these-guys-that-are-very-tech-savvy-so-people-tend-to-expect-us/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [“I can’t even imagine what real food must taste like. Adam”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-can-t-even-imagine-what-real-food-must-taste-like-adam/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [See like Adam & Eve Tragedy was our destiny Like Sonny & Cher I dont care I got you baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/see-like-adam-eve-tragedy-was-our-destiny-like-sonny-cher-i-dont-care/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [“I am puffed clay, blown up and set down. That I fall like Adam is not surprising: I plunge, waft, arc, pour, and dive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-puffed-clay-blown-up-and-set-down-that-i-fall-like-adam-is-not/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I've always looked up to Amy Poehler and, obviously, people like Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Mel Brooks, and the 'Monty Python' guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-samberg/i-ve-always-looked-up-to-amy-poehler-and-obviously-people-like-adam/) [Andy Samberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-samberg/) > [If you are proud of your descent from virtuous ancestors, how empty their virtue will leave your hands if you yourself are not virtuous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/if-you-are-proud-of-your-descent-from-virtuous-ancestors-how-empty/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [As to the fable that there are Antipodes, that is to say, men on the opposite side of the earth where the sun rises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/as-to-the-fable-that-there-are-antipodes-that-is-to-say-men-on-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Going where no man has gone before is more difficult than it sounds. Our cousins and ancestors were no less curious than we are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/going-where-no-man-has-gone-before-is-more-difficult-than-it-sounds/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [Food binds us to our roots as strongly as any song or poem. Many of us have learned more about our ancestors in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-thomas/food-binds-us-to-our-roots-as-strongly-as-any-song-or-poem-many-of-us/) [Anna Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-thomas/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) ## More by Owen Wister > [“It was through the Declaration of Independence that we Americans acknowledged the eternal inequality of man. For by it we abolished a cut-and-dried aristocracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/it-was-through-the-declaration-of-independence-that-we-americans/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [I reckon some parsons have a right to tell yu' to be good. The bishop of this hyeh Territory has a right. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/i-reckon-some-parsons-have-a-right-to-tell-yu-to-be-good-the-bishop/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“All America is divided into two classes - the quality and the equality. The latter will always recognize the former when mistaken for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/all-america-is-divided-into-two-classes-the-quality-and-the-equality/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“Here in flesh and blood was a truth which I had long believed in words, but never met before. The creature we call a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/here-in-flesh-and-blood-was-a-truth-which-i-had-long-believed-in/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [I thought there should in truth be heavy damages for malpractice on human souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/i-thought-there-should-in-truth-be-heavy-damages-for-malpractice-on/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“The cowboy has now gone to worlds invisible; the wind has blown away the white ashes of his campfires; but the empty sardine box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/the-cowboy-has-now-gone-to-worlds-invisible-the-wind-has-blown-away/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [But no earthly foot can step between a man and his destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/but-no-earthly-foot-can-step-between-a-man-and-his-destiny/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [With a gun against my belly I... I always smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/with-a-gun-against-my-belly-i-i-always-smile/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“Forgive my asking you to use your mind. It is a thing which no novelist should expect of his reader...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/forgive-my-asking-you-to-use-your-mind-it-is-a-thing-which-no/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“Providence makes use of instruments I'd not touch with a ten-foot pole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/providence-makes-use-of-instruments-i-d-not-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [An aristocrat in morals as in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/an-aristocrat-in-morals-as-in-mind/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“He possessed that quality in his profanity of not offending by it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/he-possessed-that-quality-in-his-profanity-of-not-offending-by-it/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“When a man ain't got no ideas of his own," said Scipio, "he'd ought to be kind o' careful who he borrows 'em from.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/when-a-man-ain-t-got-no-ideas-of-his-own-said-scipio-he-d-ought-to-be/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [“It was through the Declaration of Independence that we Americans acknowledged the eternal quality of man. For by it we abolished a cut-and-dried aristocracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/it-was-through-the-declaration-of-independence-that-we-americans-2/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) > [When a man ain't got no ideas of his own, he'd ought to be kind o' careful who he borrows 'em from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/when-a-man-ain-t-got-no-ideas-of-his-own-he-d-ought-to-be-kind-o/) [Owen Wister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) [Explore all 29 Owen Wister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/) ## More Adam quotes > [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/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin, and lay the blame upon a woman; I am glad to recognize that I differ from the father of my sex in no important particular, being as manlike as most of his sons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Owen Wister" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor-i-must-begin-and-lay-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adam" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor-i-must-begin-and-lay-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/owen-wister-21300_adam_like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor_2618090.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor, I must begin, and lay the blame upon a woman; I am glad to…” — Owen Wister", "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": "Owen Wister", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wister/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Like Adam, our first conspicuous ancestor,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor-i-must-begin-and-lay-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wister/like-adam-our-first-conspicuous-ancestor-i-must-begin-and-lay-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 } } ] } ```