Cleopatra Quote by Stacy Schiff
“Cleopatra stood at one of the most dangerous intersections in history; that of women and power. Clever women, Euripides had warned hundreds of years earlier, were dangerous.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff, 2010
Cleopatra’s power illustrates how women who wield influence are often portrayed as threats, reflecting societal fear of female authority.
In simple terms: Women in power are seen as dangerous.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered stereotypes.
Themes
gender
power
history
stereotypes
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- leadership training
- gender equity initiatives
- media analysis
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
feminist theory
political symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling powerful women as dangerous affect their legacy?
- What can be done to reframe narratives about women in power?
A Different Perspective
The narrative can overlook Cleopatra’s agency and achievements beyond the “danger” label.
![“[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)
![“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)
