The endeavor to keep alive any hoary establishment beyond its natural date is often pernicious and always useless. Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes From Mary Wollstonecraft Why is our fancy to be appalled by terrific perspectives of a hell beyond the grave? Mary Wollstonecraft fancyhellperspective In this metropolis a number of lurking leeches infamously gain subsistence by practicing on the credulity of women. Mary Wollstonecraft leechesatheismnumbers I think schools, as they are now regulated, the hot-beds of vice and folly, and the knowledge of human nature supposedly attained there, merely cunning selfishness. Mary Wollstonecraft educationschoolthinking I write in a hurry, because the little one, who has been sleeping a long time, begins to call for me. Poor thing! when I am sad, I lament that all my affections grow on me, till they become too strong for my peace, though they all afford me snatches of exquisite enjoyment. Mary Wollstonecraft strongsleepwriting In every age there has been a stream of popular opinion that has carried all before it, and given a family character, as it were, to the century. Mary Wollstonecraft popular-songagecharacter It is the preservation of the species, not of individuals, which appears to be the design of Deity throughout the whole of nature. Mary Wollstonecraft deitiesdesignnature For any kind of reading I think better than leaving a blank still a blank, because the mind must receive a degree of enlargement and obtain a little strength by a slight exertion of its thinking powers; besides, even the productions that are only addressed to the imagination, raise the reader a little above the gross gratification of appetites, to which the mind has not given a shade of delicacy. Mary Wollstonecraft readingimaginationthinking Perhaps the seeds of false-refinement, immorality, and vanity, have ever been shed by the great. Weak, artificial beings, raised above the common wants and defections of their race, in a premature and unnatural manner, undermine the very foundation of virtue, and spread corruption through the whole mass of society! Mary Wollstonecraft vanitywomenleadership Let not men then in the pride of power, use the same arguments that tyrannic kings and venal ministers have used, and fallaciously assert that women ought to be subjected because she has always been so.... 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 womenpridekings The highest branch of solitary amusement is reading; but even in the choice of books the fancy is first employed; for in reading, the heart is touched, till its feelings are examined by the understanding, and the ripening of reason regulate the imagination. This is the work of years, and the most important of all employments. Mary Wollstonecraft readingheartbook Men neglect the duties incumbent on man, yet are treated like demi-gods; religion is also separated from morality by a ceremonial veil, yet men wonder that the world is almost, literally speaking, a den of sharpers or oppressors. Mary Wollstonecraft veilsatheismmen In fact, it is a farce to call any being virtuous whose virtues do not result from the exercise of its own reason. Mary Wollstonecraft farceatheismexercise Age demands respect; youth, love. Mary Wollstonecraft demandyouthage Men with common minds seldom break through general rules. Prudence is ever the resort of weakness; and they rarely go as far as as they may in any undertaking, who are determined not to go beyond it on any account. Mary Wollstonecraft break-throughmindmen Learn from me, if not by my precepts, then by my example, how dangerous is the pursuit of knowledge and how much happier is that man who believes his native town to be the world than he who aspires to be greater than his nature will allow. Mary Wollstonecraft role-modelsmenbelieve Women have seldom sufficient employment to silence their feelings; a round of little cares, or vain pursuits frittering away all strength of mind and organs, they become naturally only objects of sense. Mary Wollstonecraft silencemindfeelings The most perfect education ... is such an exercise of the understanding as is best calculated to strengthen the body and form the heart. Or, in other words, to enable the individual to attain such habits of virtue as will render it independent. Mary Wollstonecraft independenteducationheart At boarding schools of every description, the relaxation of the junior boys is mischief; and of the senior, vice. Mary Wollstonecraft seniorboysschool From the respect paid to property flow, as from a poisoned fountain, most of the evils and vices which render this world such a dreary scene to the contemplative mind. Mary Wollstonecraft evilmindworld My husband - my king. Mary Wollstonecraft my-husbandhusbandkings
