Cleopatra Quote by Stacy Schiff
![“[Cleopatra's] power has been made to derive from her sexuality, for obvious reason; as one of Caesar's murderers had noted, 'How much more attention people pay to their fears than to their memories!' It has always been preferable to attribute a woman's success to her beauty rather than to her…” quote by Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3cd/stacy-schiff-7881_life_cleopatra-s-power-has-been-made-to-deriv_1540427.jpg)
““[Cleopatra's] power has been made to derive from her sexuality, for obvious reason; as one of Caesar's murderers had noted, 'How much more attention people pay to their fears than to their memories!' It has always been preferable to attribute a woman's success to her beauty rather than to her brains, to reduce her to the sum of her sex life.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff, 2010
Society often credits women’s success to beauty rather than intellect, reducing them to sexual stereotypes.
In simple terms: Women’s achievements are misattributed to beauty.
Key Takeaway
Challenge gendered stereotypes.
Themes
gender bias
representation
history
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
feminist
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- education
- leadership
- policy making
Key Concepts
feminist critique
cultural narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this bias affect modern leadership?
- What can rewrite narratives about women’s success?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue biology influences perception of power.
![“Véra assumed her married name almost as a stage name; rarely has matrimony so much represented a profession. It was one of the ironies of the life that – born at a time and place where women could and did lay claim to all kinds of ambitions – she should elevate the role of wife to a high art. […]…” quote by Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/30f/stacy-schiff-7881_art_v-ra-assumed-her-married-name-almost-as_231770.jpg)
