The power of generalizing ideas, of drawing comprehensive conclusions from individual observations, is the only acquirement, for an immortal being, that really deserves the name of knowledge. Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft More Quotes From Mary Wollstonecraft Judicious books enlarge the mind and improve the heart. Mary Wollstonecraft mindheartbook If the abstract rights of man will bear discussion and explanation, those of women, by a parity of reasoning, will not shrink from the same test. Mary Wollstonecraft womentestsrights Modesty is the graceful, calm virtue of maturity; bashfulness the charm of vivacious youth. Mary Wollstonecraft vivaciousmodestymaturity The conduct of an accountable being must be regulated by the operations of its own reason. Mary Wollstonecraft moralitybehaviorreason The graceful ivy, clasping the oak that supported it, would form a whole in which strength and beauty would be equally conspicuous. Mary Wollstonecraft ivywould-bebeauty A king is always a king - and a woman always a woman: his authority and her sex ever stand between them and rational converse Mary Wollstonecraft authoritykingssex Love, from its very nature, must be transitory. Mary Wollstonecraft transitorypanacea But what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an hypothesis! Mary Wollstonecraft hypothesisweakway Situation seems to be the mould in which men's characters are formed. Mary Wollstonecraft mouldcharactermen Surely something resides in this heart that is not perishable - and life is more than a dream. Mary Wollstonecraft literaturedreamheart To improve both sexes they ought, not only in private families, but in public schools, to be educated together. If marriage be the cement of society, mankind should all be educated after the same model, or the intercourse of the sexes will never deserve the name of fellowship. Mary Wollstonecraft marriagesexschool Executions, far from being useful examples to the survivors, have, I am persuaded, a quite contrary effect, by hardening the heart they ought to terrify. Besides, the fear of an ignominious death, I believe, never deterred anyone from the commission of a crime, because in committing it the mind is roused to activity about present circumstances. Mary Wollstonecraft mindheartbelieve True happiness must arise from well-regulated affections, and an affection includes a duty. Mary Wollstonecraft affectionarisehappiness Make them free, and they will quickly become wise and virtous, as men become more so; for the improvement must be mutual, or the injustice which one half of the human race are obliged to submit to, retorting on their oppressors, the virtue of men will be worm-eaten by the insect whom he keeps under his feet Mary Wollstonecraft racewisemen Friendship and domestic happiness are continually praised; yet how little is there of either in the world, because it requires more cultivation of mind to keep awake affection, even in our own hearts, than the common run of people suppose. Mary Wollstonecraft heartrunningpeople People thinking for themselves have more energy in their voice, than any government, which it is possible for human wisdom to invent; and every government not aware of this sacred truth will, at some period, be suddenly overturned. Mary Wollstonecraft voicegovernmentthinking Children, I grant, should be innocent; but when the epithet is applied to men, or women, it is but a civil term for weakness. Mary Wollstonecraft womenweaknesschildren ... wealth and female softness equally tend to debase mankind! Mary Wollstonecraft wealthmankindfemale Men and women must be educated, in a great degree, by the opinions and manners of the society they live in. 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. It may then fairly be inferred, that, till society be differently constituted, much cannot be expected from education. Mary Wollstonecraft agecharactermen I must be allowed to add some explanatory remarks to bring the subject home to reason-to that sluggish reason, which supinely takes opinions on trust, and obstinately supports them to spare itself the labour of thinking. Mary Wollstonecraft supporthomethinking
