--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why also did it not prefer to make its…" description: "\"“Why also did it not prefer to make its attack upon the man instead of the woman? And if thou sayest that it attacked her as being the weaker of the tw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/the-church-fathers-1438_working-alone_why-also-did-it-not-prefer-to-make-its-a_3096596.jpg" --- # Why also did it not prefer to make its attack upon the man… ![“Why also did it not prefer to make its attack upon the man instead of the woman? And if thou sayest that it attacked her as being the weaker of the two, [I reply that], on the contrary, she was the stronger, since she appears to have been the helper of the man in the transgression of the…” quote by The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/the-church-fathers-1438_working-alone_why-also-did-it-not-prefer-to-make-its-a_3096596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/the-church-fathers-1438_working-alone_why-also-did-it-not-prefer-to-make-its-a_3096596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/428/the-church-fathers-1438_working-alone_why-also-did-it-not-prefer-to-make-its-a_3096596.jpg) > ““Why also did it not prefer to make its attack upon the man instead of the woman? And if thou sayest that it attacked her as being the weaker of the two, \[I reply that\], on the contrary, she was the stronger, since she appears to have been the helper of the man in the transgression of the commandment. For she did by herself alone resist the serpent, and it was after holding out for a while and making opposition that she ate of the tree, being circumvented by craft; whereas Adam, making no fight whatever, nor refusal, partook of the fruit handed to him by the woman, which is an indication of the utmost imbecility and effeminacy of mind. And the woman indeed, having been vanquished in the contest by a demon, is deserving of pardon; but Adam shall deserve none, for he was worsted by a woman,—he who, in his own person, had received the command from God. But the woman, having heard of the command from Adam, treated it with contempt, either because she deemed it unworthy of God to speak by means of it, or because she had her doubts, perhaps even held the opinion that the command was given to her by Adam of his own accord. The serpent found her working alone, so that he was enabled to confer with her apart. Observing her then either eating or not eating from the trees, he put before her the fruit of the \[forbidden\] tree. And if he saw her eating, it is manifest that she was partaker of a body subject to corruption. “For”” [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that woman, not man, bears responsibility for the fall, portraying Adam as weaker and more culpable despite traditional narratives. **In simple terms:** Woman is blamed more than man for original sin. Key Takeaway Re‑examine gender assumptions in theological stories. Themes gender theology responsibility biblical interpretation sin Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical theological When to use this quote - religious study - gender studies - ethical debates - historical analysis Key Concepts patriarchy original sin agency misinterpretation Questions to Reflect On - How does this view challenge conventional gender roles? - What implications does it have for modern theological discourse? 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I was working alone, following my instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-wasn-t-part-of-any-movement-i-was-working-alone-following-my/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) [Browse all 38 Working alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why also did it not prefer to make its attack upon the man instead of the woman? And if thou sayest that it attacked her as being the weaker of the two, [I reply that], on the contrary, she was the stronger, since she appears to have been the helper of the man in the transgression of the commandment. For she did by herself alone resist the serpent, and it was after holding out for a while and making opposition that she ate of the tree, being circumvented by craft; whereas Adam, making no fight whatever, nor refusal, partook of the fruit handed to him by the woman, which is an indication of the utmost imbecility and effeminacy of mind. And the woman indeed, having been vanquished in the contest by a demon, is deserving of pardon; but Adam shall deserve none, for he was worsted by a woman,—he who, in his own person, had received the command from God. But the woman, having heard of the command from Adam, treated it with contempt, either because she deemed it unworthy of God to speak by means of it, or because she had her doubts, perhaps even held the opinion that the command was given to her by Adam of his own accord. The serpent found her working alone, so that he was enabled to confer with her apart. 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