--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An average woman is in this superior to…" description: "\"“An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.”\" — Thomas Hardy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg" --- # An average woman is in this superior to an average… ![“An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.” quote by Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg) > ““An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.”” [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women often respond rather than initiate, reflecting societal expectations of passivity. **In simple terms:** Women tend to react, not lead. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge passive roles. Themes gender roles passivity societal expectations Mood reflective critical Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - personal relationships - activism - leadership Key Concepts feminist critique social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How can women shift from reactive to proactive roles? - What structures reinforce passive expectations? A Different Perspective Overlooks women who actively shape outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-man/) [Average Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-woman-264562/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Instigates Responds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instigates-responds-2158594/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Superior Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-average-2158593/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Woman Superior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-superior-463557/) [Woman-s-character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-s-character/) ## Related quotes > [The average woman is at the head of something with which she can do as she likes; the average man has to obey orders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-average-woman-is-at-the-head-of-something-with-which-she-can-do/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [But the female mind has demonstrated a capacity for all the mental acquirements and achievements of men, and as generations ensue that capacity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/but-the-female-mind-has-demonstrated-a-capacity-for-all-the-mental/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [I should favour anything that would increase the present enormous authority of women and their creative action in their own homes. The average woman...is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/i-should-favour-anything-that-would-increase-the-present-enormous/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-average-woman-would-rather-have-beauty-than-brains-because-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [beware the average man the average woman beware their love, their love is average seeks average but there is genius in their hatred there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/beware-the-average-man-the-average-woman-beware-their-love-their-love/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Darcy: 'I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/darcy-i-certainly-have-not-the-talent-which-some-people-possess-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“There’s nothing shameful about taking orders from a woman of superior rank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/there-s-nothing-shameful-about-taking-orders-from-a-woman-of-superior/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [In some respects woman is superior to man. She is more tender-hearted, more receptive, her intuition is more intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/in-some-respects-woman-is-superior-to-man-she-is-more-tender-hearted/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [I believe that woman are superior to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-andre/i-believe-that-woman-are-superior-to-men/) [Carl Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-andre/) > [“My fingers", said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/my-fingers-said-elizabeth-do-not-move-over-this-instrument-in-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [A woman who is perfectly woman is superior to a man who is imperfectly man, just as a farmer who is faithful to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/a-woman-who-is-perfectly-woman-is-superior-to-a-man-who-is/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/once-made-equal-to-man-woman-becomes-his-superior/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [No Man/Woman is any more superior than the other. We are all created equal, then we adopt what we see and hear around us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/no-man-woman-is-any-more-superior-than-the-other-we-are-all-created/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [No woman who is a woman says of a human body, 'it is nothing' ... On this one point, and on this point alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/no-woman-who-is-a-woman-says-of-a-human-body-it-is-nothing-on-this/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Thomas Hardy > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. Secondarily, he made close acquaintance with phenomena which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/he-grew-away-from-old-associations-and-saw-something-new-in-life-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“She was in a sound sleep, Jude, dying of anxiety lest she should have caught a chill which might permanently injure her, was glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/she-was-in-a-sound-sleep-jude-dying-of-anxiety-lest-she-should-have/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You ride well, but you don't kiss nicely at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-ride-well-but-you-don-t-kiss-nicely-at-all/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You could sometimes see her twelfth year in her cheeks, or her ninth sparkling from her eyes; and even her fifth would flit over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-could-sometimes-see-her-twelfth-year-in-her-cheeks-or-her-ninth/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It was mid-May time, bringing with it weather not, perhaps, quite so blooming as that assumed to be natural to the month by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-was-mid-may-time-bringing-with-it-weather-not-perhaps-quite-so/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Some folk want their luck buttered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/some-folk-want-their-luck-buttered/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Measurement of life should be proportioned rather to the intensity of the experience than to its actual length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/measurement-of-life-should-be-proportioned-rather-to-the-intensity-of/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“I was court-martialed in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/i-was-court-martialed-in-my-absence-and-sentenced-to-death-in-my/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It being the first time in his life that he had touched female fingers under water, Dick duly registered the sensation as rather a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-being-the-first-time-in-his-life-that-he-had-touched-female/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“As soon as she could discern the outline of the house, it had all its old effect upon Tess's imagination. Part of her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/as-soon-as-she-could-discern-the-outline-of-the-house-it-had-all-its/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [ The perfect woman, you see \[is\] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who \[uses\] her hands and her head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-perfect-woman-you-see-is-a-working-woman-not-an-idler-not-a-fine/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“The Sinister Spirit sneered: 'It had to be!' And again the Spirit of Pity whispered, 'Why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-sinister-spirit-sneered-it-had-to-be-and-again-the-spirit-of-pity/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/justice-was-done-and-the-president-of-the-immortals-in-aeschylean/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Explore all 561 Thomas Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## More Average man quotes > [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [The commonest ivory tower is that of the average man, the state of passivity towards experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-commonest-ivory-tower-is-that-of-the-average-man-the-state-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“Standard English is a convenient abstraction, like the average man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leslie-brook/standard-english-is-a-convenient-abstraction-like-the-average-man/) [George Leslie Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leslie-brook/) > [The average person would have quit at the first failure. That’s why there have been many average men and only one Edison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-average-person-would-have-quit-at-the-first-failure-that-s-why/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Had there been any existent vital and energetic institution left in Society after the Reformation for the use of small property in coordinated form-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/had-there-been-any-existent-vital-and-energetic-institution-left-in/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Apparently the average man sees woman alternatelyas an inferior being and as an angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-holland/apparently-the-average-man-sees-woman-alternatelyas-an-inferior-being/) [Willa Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-holland/) > [“But that's crazy, " George said. "How can I be the Average American Man? I'm only five foot eight and my name is Blaxter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/but-that-s-crazy-george-said-how-can-i-be-the-average-american-man-i/) [Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/) > [“The average man does not know what to do with his life, yet wants another one which will last forever. —ANATOLE FRANCE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-henry/the-average-man-does-not-know-what-to-do-with-his-life-yet-wants/) [Todd Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-henry/) > [It is just the little touches after the average man would quit that make the master's fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/it-is-just-the-little-touches-after-the-average-man-would-quit-that/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [“The average man thinks that a little falseness goes with beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/the-average-man-thinks-that-a-little-falseness-goes-with-beauty/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“As regards his health--and the rest of the things--the average man is what his environment and his superstitions have made him; and their function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/as-regards-his-health-and-the-rest-of-the-things-the-average-man-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The presentations and conceptions of the average man of the world are formed and dominated, not by the full and pure desire for knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mach/the-presentations-and-conceptions-of-the-average-man-of-the-world-are/) [Ernst Mach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mach/) > [The average man is what his environment and his superstitions have made him; and their function is to make him an ass. He can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-average-man-is-what-his-environment-and-his-superstitions-have/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [We are more gullible and superstitious today than we were in the Middle Ages, and an example of modern credulity is the widespread belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/we-are-more-gullible-and-superstitious-today-than-we-were-in-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Browse all 175 Average man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Hardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to-an-average-man-that-she-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Average man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to-an-average-man-that-she-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/thomas-hardy-410_average-man_an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to_208623.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An average woman is in this superior to an average man—that she never instigates, only responds.” — Thomas Hardy", "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": "Thomas Hardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“An average woman is in this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to-an-average-man-that-she-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/an-average-woman-is-in-this-superior-to-an-average-man-that-she-never/#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 } } ] } ```