Modesty is the graceful, calm virtue of maturity; bashfulness the charm of vivacious youth. Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes From Mary Wollstonecraft The mind will ever be unstable that has only prejudices to rest on, and the current will run with destructive fury when there are no barriers to break its force. Mary Wollstonecraft prejudice mind running I never wanted but your heart--that gone, you have nothing more to give. Mary Wollstonecraft heartbroken heartbreak giving When man, governed by reasonable laws, enjoys his natural freedom, let him despise woman, if she do not share it with him. Mary Wollstonecraft feminism law men An air of fashion, which is but a badge of slavery ... proves that the soul has not a strong individual character. Mary Wollstonecraft fashion strong character I am a strange compound of weakness and resolution! However, if I must suffer, I will endeavour to suffer in silence. There is certainly a great defect in my mind my wayward heart creates its own misery Why I am made thus I cannot tell; and, till I can form some idea of the whole of my existence, I must be content to weep and dance like a child long for a toy, and be tired of it as soon as I get it. Mary Wollstonecraft tired heart children The last man! Yes I may well describe that solitary being's feelings, feeling myself as the last relic of a beloved race, my companions extinct before me. Mary Wollstonecraft race feelings men When any prevailing prejudice is attacked, the wise will consider, and leave the narrow-minded to rail with thoughtless vehemence at innovation. Mary Wollstonecraft innovation prejudice wise If women be educated for dependence; that is, to act according to the will of another fallible being, and submit, right or wrong, to power, where are we to stop? Mary Wollstonecraft dependence-on-others power literature [I]f we revert to history, we shall find that the women who have distinguished themselves have neither been the most beautiful nor the most gentle of their sex. Mary Wollstonecraft gentle beautiful sex I begin to love this little creature, and to anticipate his birth as a fresh twist to a knot which I do not wish to untie. Men are spoilt by frankness, I believe, yet I must tell you that I love you better than I supposed I did, when I promised to love you forever....I feel it thrilling through my frame, giving and promising pleasure. Mary Wollstonecraft love-you men believe In the education of women, the cultivation of the understanding is always subordinate to the acquirement of some corporeal accomplishment. Mary Wollstonecraft accomplishment understanding education Good habits, imperceptibly fixed, are far preferable to the precepts of reason. Mary Wollstonecraft fixed habit reason At school boys become gluttons and slovens, and, instead of cultivating domestic affections, very early rush into the libertinism which destroys the constitution before it is formed; hardening the heart as it weakens the understanding. Mary Wollstonecraft heart boys school I do earnestly wish to see the distinction of sex confounded in society, unless where love animates the behaviour. Mary Wollstonecraft change love sex There must be more equality established in society, or morality will never gain ground, and this virtuous equakity will not rest firmly even when founded on a rock, if one half of mankind be chained to its bottom by fate, for they will be continually undermining it through ignorance or pride Mary Wollstonecraft fate pride ignorance ...I scarcely am able to govern my muscles, when I see a man start with eager, and serious solicitude, to lift a handkerchief, orshut a door, when the lady could have done it herself, had she only moved a pace or two. Mary Wollstonecraft doors men two The flexible muscles growing daily more rigid give character to the countenance ; that is, they trace the operations of the mind with the iron pen of fate, and tell us not only what powers are within, but how they have been employed. Mary Wollstonecraft fate destiny character ...trifling employments have rendered woman a trifler. Mary Wollstonecraft trifling employment It appears to me impossible that I should cease to exist, or that this active, restless spirit, equally alive to joy and sorrow, should be only organized dust. Mary Wollstonecraft dust sorrow joy An immoderate fondness for dress, for pleasure, and for sway, are the passions of savages; the passions that occupy those uncivilized beings who have not yet extended the dominion of the mind, or even learned to think with the energy necessary to concatenate that abstract train of thought which produces principles.... that women from their education and the present state of civilized life, are in the same condition, cannotbe controverted. Mary Wollstonecraft thoughtful passion thinking
