Society can only be happy and free in proportion as it is virtuous. Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes From Mary Wollstonecraft ...men endeavor to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women, intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them, do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts, or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society. Mary Wollstonecraft heart pay men We cannot, without depraving our minds, endeavour to please a lover or husband, but in proportion as he pleases us. Mary Wollstonecraft husband lovers mind To be a good mother, a woman must have sense, and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are, in general, foolish mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their part, in secret, against the father, who is held up as a scarecrow. Mary Wollstonecraft husband mother children Hereditary property sophisticates the mind, and the unfortunate victims to it ... swathed from their birth, seldom exert the locomotive faculty of body or mind; and, thus viewing every thing through one medium, and that a false one, they are unable to discern in what true merit and happiness consist. Mary Wollstonecraft merit body mind For years I have endeavored to calm an impetuous tide -- laboring to make my feelings take an orderly course -- it was striving against the stream. Mary Wollstonecraft tides feelings years Fondness is a poor substitute for friendship. Mary Wollstonecraft fondness substitutes poor The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it for a slavish submission to any power but reason. Mary Wollstonecraft parent reason mind Weakness may excite tenderness, and gratify the arrogant pride of man; but the lordly caresses of a protector will not gratify a noble mind that pants for, and deserves to be respected. Fondness is a poor substitute for friendship. Mary Wollstonecraft pride mind men ... we never do any thing well, unless we love it for its own sake. Mary Wollstonecraft excellence sake success We reason deeply, when we forcibly feel. Mary Wollstonecraft reason feels Women deluded by these sentiments, sometimes boast of their weakness, cunningly obtaining power by playing on the weakness of men; and they may well glory in their illicit sway, for, like Turkish bashaws, they have more real power than their masters: but virtue is sacrificed to temporary gratifications, and the respectability of life to the triumph of an hour. Mary Wollstonecraft real may men Life cannot be seen by an unmoved spectator. Mary Wollstonecraft spectators Every political good carried to the extreme must be productive of evil. Mary Wollstonecraft politics political evil Virtue can only flourish among equals. Mary Wollstonecraft equal equality virtue It is time to effect a revolution in female manners - time to restore to them their lost dignity. It is time to separate unchangeable morals from local manners. Mary Wollstonecraft female revolution time 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. Mary Wollstonecraft twists wish pregnancy I love man as my fellow; but his scepter, real, or usurped, extends not to me, unless the reason of an individual demands my homage; and even then the submission is to reason, and not to man. Mary Wollstonecraft real love men I think I love most people best when they are in adversity; for pity is one of my prevailing passions. Mary Wollstonecraft adversity passion thinking Some women govern their husbands without degrading themselves, because intellect will always govern. Mary Wollstonecraft degrading intellect husband Women becoming, consequently, weakerthan they ought to behave not sufficient strength to discharge the first duty of a mother; and sacrificing to lasciviousness the parental affectioneither destroy the embryo in the womb, or cast if off when born. Nature in every thing demands respect, and those who violate her laws seldom violate them with impunity. Mary Wollstonecraft sacrifice law mother
