Aim Quote by Sarah Moore Grimke
“The reason why women effect so little and are so shallow is because their aims are low, marriage is the prize for which they strive; if foiled in that they rarely rise above disappointment.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, 1838
Women are portrayed as limited by societal expectations that prioritize marriage over personal ambition, leading to shallow goals and disappointment when those expectations fail.
In simple terms: Society limits women’s goals to marriage, causing shallow aims and disappointment.
Key Takeaway
Challenge restrictive gender roles.
Themes
gender
society
expectations
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
social
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- career counseling
- women’s empowerment
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
feminism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societal expectations shape personal ambitions?
- What can be done to broaden women’s aspirations?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks historical context and diverse female experiences.
![“Is it not clear that to give to such women as desire it and can devote themselves to literary and scientific pursuits all the advantages enjoyed by men of the same class will lessen essentially the number of thoughtless, idle, vain and frivolous women and thus secure the [sic] society the services…” quote by Sarah Moore Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8f5/sarah-moore-grimke-22604_advantage_is-it-not-clear-that-to-give-to-such-wom_264407.jpg)
![“[Women] are early taught that to appear to yield is the only way to govern.” quote by Sarah Moore Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2e5/sarah-moore-grimke-22604_feminism_women-are-early-taught-that-to-appear-to_430543.jpg)
![“[On the New Testament:] I ... must enter my protest against the false translation of some passages by the men who did that work, and against the perverted interpretation by the men who undertook to write commentaries thereon. I am inclined to think, when we [women] are admitted to the honor of…” quote by Sarah Moore Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e8e/sarah-moore-grimke-22604_bible_on-the-new-testament-i-must-enter-my-pro_790169.jpg)
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
![“I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback [in "The Invisible Woman"]. Ralph [Fiennes] was very open to my input, I think knowing that he couldn't always be there 100 percent, that he had dual aims with directing and acting.” quote by Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/56e/felicity-jones-2070_acting_i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-wa_11933.jpg)
