--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I hate is the thought of being under…" description: "\"What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb,\" I had told Doctor Nolan. \"A man doesn't have a worry in the world, while I've got a baby hang..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg" --- # What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb,"… ![“What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb," I had told Doctor Nolan. "A man doesn't have a worry in the world, while I've got a baby hanging over my head like a big stick, to keep me in line.” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg) > “What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb," I had told Doctor Nolan. "A man doesn't have a worry in the world, while I've got a baby hanging over my head like a big stick, to keep me in line.” [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling trapped by societal expectations and personal burdens, yearning for autonomy. **In simple terms:** Feeling trapped and wanting freedom. Key Takeaway Seek independence and support. Themes oppression gender roles freedom Mood reflective somber Type literary personal When to use this quote - marriage - career - parenthood - mental health Key Concepts patriarchy psychological strain Questions to Reflect On - How can you reclaim agency? - What support systems help you resist oppression? A Different Perspective Balancing personal agency with external pressures is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [If Doctor Nolan asked me for the matches, I would say that I'd thought they were made of candy and had eaten them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/if-doctor-nolan-asked-me-for-the-matches-i-would-say-that-i-d-thought/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Doctor Nolan had said, quite bluntly, that a lot of people would treat me gingerly, or even avoid me, like a leper with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/doctor-nolan-had-said-quite-bluntly-that-a-lot-of-people-would-treat/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“If only they would not look at one so-What great misery can be in two such small spots, no bigger than a man's thumb-in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/if-only-they-would-not-look-at-one-so-what-great-misery-can-be-in-two/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I don't see what women see in other women," I'd told Doctor Nolan in my interview that noon. "What does a woman see in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-don-t-see-what-women-see-in-other-women-i-d-told-doctor-nolan-in-my/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I hate the thought of someone never being missed,' said Ianto sadly. 'It's the ultimate humiliation, surely. So unimportant in life that no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baxendale/i-hate-the-thought-of-someone-never-being-missed-said-ianto-sadly-it/) [Trevor Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baxendale/) > [I hate the thought of somebody else getting your attention. I dont know if its the possibility of me being jealous or I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/presidentsarj4/i-hate-the-thought-of-somebody-else-getting-your-attention-i-dont/) [Presidentsarj4](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/presidentsarj4/) > [All I see in your eyes is hate when I thought you and I were fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-roland/all-i-see-in-your-eyes-is-hate-when-i-thought-you-and-i-were-fate/) Rebecca Roland > [Deep down you know it's best for yourself, but you hate the thought of him being with someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/deep-down-you-know-it-s-best-for-yourself-but-you-hate-the-thought-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought, I hate the thought of a 12, 13 or 14 year-old girl seeing a picture of me and thinking she'll do what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-hate-the-thought-of-a-12-13-or-14-year-old-girl-seeing-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would hate the thought of dying full stop; I've got to be honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-fairbrass/i-would-hate-the-thought-of-dying-full-stop-i-ve-got-to-be-honest/) [Craig Fairbrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-fairbrass/) > [I hate the thought of breaking someones heart, I'd much rather they broke mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-the-thought-of-breaking-someones-heart-i-d-much-rather-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate being lied too, I hate the thought of being played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-lied-too-i-hate-the-thought-of-being-played/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dont hate it he thought, panting in the cold air, the iron New England dark; I dont. I dont! I dont hate it!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-dont-hate-it-he-thought-panting-in-the-cold-air-the-iron-new/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“I hate the thought that I'm just some kind of Russian nesting doll with the big outside and inevitably, rattling around under all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mcclure/i-hate-the-thought-that-i-m-just-some-kind-of-russian-nesting-doll/) [Wendy McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mcclure/) > [I hate the thought of animals being killed just for our pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/i-hate-the-thought-of-animals-being-killed-just-for-our-pleasure/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) ## More by Sylvia Plath > [“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-was-a-queer-sultry-summer-the-summer-they-electrocuted-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I love life. But it is hard and I have so much, so very much to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-love-life-but-it-is-hard-and-i-have-so-much-so-very-much-to-learn/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [... These are my hands My knees. I may be skin and bone, Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman. ... --Lady Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/these-are-my-hands-my-knees-i-may-be-skin-and-bone-nevertheless-i-am/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“People were made of nothing so much as dust, and I couldn't see that doctoring all that dust was a bit better than writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/people-were-made-of-nothing-so-much-as-dust-and-i-couldn-t-see-that/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I couldn't stand the idea of a woman having to have a single pure life and a man being able to have a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-couldn-t-stand-the-idea-of-a-woman-having-to-have-a-single-pure/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I saw the gooseflesh on my skin. I did not know what made it. I was not cold. Had a ghost passed over? No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-saw-the-gooseflesh-on-my-skin-i-did-not-know-what-made-it-i-was-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I have to live my life, and it is the only one I’ll ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-to-live-my-life-and-it-is-the-only-one-i-ll-ever-have/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The city had faded my tan, though. I looked yellow as a Chinaman. Ordinarily, I would have been nervous about my dress and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-city-had-faded-my-tan-though-i-looked-yellow-as-a-chinaman/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I have stitched life into me like a rare organ --from "Three Women: A Poem for Three Voices", written 1962”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-stitched-life-into-me-like-a-rare-organ-from-three-women-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [It is so much safer not to feel, not to let the world touch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-is-so-much-safer-not-to-feel-not-to-let-the-world-touch-me/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond" Now coldness comes sifting down, layer after layer, To our bower at the lily root. Overhead the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/flute-notes-from-a-reedy-pond-now-coldness-comes-sifting-down-layer/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The most saddening thing is to admit that I am not in love. I can only love (if that means self denial - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-most-saddening-thing-is-to-admit-that-i-am-not-in-love-i-can-only/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) [Explore all 1,098 Sylvia Plath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm so happy baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-m-so-happy-baby/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Weezy F. Baby. F. is fo' finisha:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/weezy-f-baby-f-is-fo-finisha/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Baby, I love you. We argue about the stupidest shit then we turn around and laugh about it. I'm obsessed with you and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay/baby-i-love-you-we-argue-about-the-stupidest-shit-then-we-turn-around/) Lindsay > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-always-wondered-why-babies-spend-so-much-time-sucking-their-thumbs/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [My baby girl Bella is growing up so fast I remember when she was soo tiny, it shows how much she has been loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/my-baby-girl-bella-is-growing-up-so-fast-i-remember-when-she-was-soo/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) [Browse all 5,822 Baby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb,\" I had told Doctor Nolan. \"A man doesn't have a worry in the world, while I've got a baby hanging over my head like a big stick, to keep me in line.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Plath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-under-a-man-s-thumb-i-had-told/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baby" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-under-a-man-s-thumb-i-had-told/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/sylvia-plath-149_baby_what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-unde_863433.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I hate is the thought of being under a man's thumb,\" I had told Doctor Nolan. \"A man doesn't have a…” — Sylvia Plath", "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": "Sylvia Plath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I hate is the thought...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-under-a-man-s-thumb-i-had-told/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/what-i-hate-is-the-thought-of-being-under-a-man-s-thumb-i-had-told/#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 } } ] } ```