I want to say to you who think women cannot succeed, we have brought the government of England to this position, that it has to face this alternative: either women are to be killed or women are to have the vote. Emmeline Pankhurst More Quotes by Emmeline Pankhurst More Quotes From Emmeline Pankhurst It always seems to me when the anti-suffrage members of the Government criticise militancy in women that it is very like beasts of prey reproaching the gentler animals who turn in desperate resistance when at the point of death. Emmeline Pankhurst government justice animal Often I have heard the taunt that suffragists are women who have failed to find any normal outlet for their emotions, and are therefore soured and disappointed beings. This is probably not true of any suffragist, and it is most certainly not true of me. My home life and relations have been as nearly ideal as possible in this imperfect world. Emmeline Pankhurst imperfect-world normal home My childhood was protected by love and a comfortable home. Yet, while still a very young child, I began instinctively to feel that there was something lacking, even in my own home, some false conception of family relations, some incomplete ideal. Emmeline Pankhurst childhood home children I have made speeches urging women to adopt methods of rebellion such as have been adopted by men in every revolution. Emmeline Pankhurst revolution speech men I have not personally suffered from the deprivations, the bitterness and sorrow which bring so many men and women to a realisation of social injustice. Emmeline Pankhurst bitterness sorrow men Every principle of liberty enunciated in any civilised country on earth, with very few exceptions, was intended entirely for men, and when women tried to force the putting into practice of these principles, for women, then they discovered they had come into a very, very unpleasant situation indeed. Emmeline Pankhurst practice men country The argument of the broken pane of glass is the most valuable argument in modern politics. Emmeline Pankhurst Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime. Hardened criminals in the men's prisons, it is said, often beg for the lash instead. Emmeline Pankhurst human-being punishment matter men Holloway Prison is a very old place, and it has the disadvantages of old places which have never known enough air and sunshine. It reeks with the odours of generations of bad ventilation, and it contrives to be at once the stuffiest and the draughtiest building I have ever been in. Emmeline Pankhurst place never bad sunshine We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers. Emmeline Pankhurst here our become because Window-breaking, when Englishmen do it, is regarded as honest expression of political opinion. Window-breaking, when Englishwomen do it, is treated as a crime. Emmeline Pankhurst crime opinion political expression One does not expect to be comfortable in prison. As a matter of fact, one's mental suffering is so much greater than any common physical distress that the latter is almost forgotten. Emmeline Pankhurst expect prison suffering matter My parents, especially my father, discussed the question of my brothers' education as a matter of real importance. My education and that of my sister were scarcely discussed at all. Emmeline Pankhurst parents sister education father The English prison system is altogether mediaeval and outworn. In some of its details, the system has improved since they began to send the Suffragettes to Holloway. I may say that we, by our public denunciation of the system, have forced these slight improvements. Emmeline Pankhurst english say details prison Every principle of liberty enunciated in any civilized country on earth, with very few exceptions, was intended entirely for men, and when women tried to force the putting into practice of these principles, for women, then they discovered they had come into a very, very unpleasant situation indeed. Emmeline Pankhurst women situation practice men
