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Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Quotes

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Famous Elizabeth Cady Stanton Quotes

“We are, as a sex, infinitely superior to men, and if we were free and developed, healthy in body and mind, as we should be under natural conditions, our motherhood would be our glory. That function gives women such wisdom and power as no male can possess.”

IfsMenGivingShouldMindBodyWould BeSexNaturalConditionsHealthyGloryFunctionMalesMotherhoodSuperiorsMind And Body
Book:Elizabeth Cady Stanton as Revealed in Her Letters, Diary and Reminiscences
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“When I first heard from the lips of Lucretia Mott that I had the same right to think for myself that Luther, Calvin, and John Knox had, and the same right to be guided by my own convictions, and would no doubt live a higher, happier life than if guided by theirs, it was like suddenly coming into the rays of the noon-day sun, after wandering with a rushlight in the caves the earth.”

IfsThinkingFirstsEarthMy OwnSunDoubtHeardAtheismHigherLipsConvictionWanderNo DoubtRaysCavesLutherNoonHappier Life
Book:History of woman suffrage
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“If we buy a plant of a horticulturist we ask him many questions as to its needs, whether it thrives best in sunshine or in shade, whether it needs much or little water, what degrees of heat or cold; but when we hold in our arms for the first time a being of infinite possibilities, in whose wisdom may rest the destiny of a nation, we take it for granted that the laws governing its life, health, and happiness are intuitively understood, that there is nothing new to be learned in regard to it.”

IfsNeedsFirstsMayChildrenLittlesLawAsksNationsWaterDestinyPossibilityArmsColdDegreesUnderstoodFirst TimeInfiniteRegardPlantGrantedHeatThriveSunshineShadeGoverningNothing NewInfinite Possibilities
Book:Elizabeth Cady Stanton: As Revealed in Her Letters & Diary (Abridged)
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“I do believe that half a dozen commonplace attorneys could so mystify and misconstrue the Ten Commandments, and so confuse Moses' surroundings on Mount Sinai, that the great law-giver, if he returned to this planet, would doubt his own identity, abjure every one of his deliverances, yea, even commend the very sins he so clearly forbade his people.”

PeopleIfsBelieveLawSinHalfDoubtIdentityPlanetsTenDozenCommandmentsSurroundingsGiverMosesCommonplaceAttorneyDeliveranceTen CommandmentsSinai
Author:Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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“I often saw weary little women coming to the table after most exhausting labors, and large, bumptious husbands spreading out their hands and thanking the Lord for the meals that the dear women had prepared, as if the whole came down like manna from heaven. So I preached a sermon in the blessing I gave. You will notice that it has three heresies in it: Heavenly Father and Mother, make us thankful for all the blessings of this life, and make us ever mindful of the patient hands that oft in weariness spread our tables and prepare our daily food. For humanity's sake, Amen.”

IfsLittlesWholeHandsMotherHumanityThreeFatherHeavenLordSawsAtheismBlessingHusbandLaborTablesPreparedPatientSakeDearSpreadPositive AtheismThis LifeMealsHeavenlyWearySermonsHeresyHeavenly FatherExhaustingAmenWearinessLittle Women
Author:Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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“These teachings in regard to woman so faithfully reflect the provisions of the canon law that it is fair to infer that their inspiration came from the same source, written by men, translated by men, revised by men. If the Bible is to be placed in the hands of our children, read in our schools, taught in our theological seminaries, proclaimed as God's law in our temples of worship, let us by all means call a council of women in New York, and give it one more revision from the woman's standpoint.”

IfsMenGivingMeanChildrenHandsInspirationSchoolLawWrittenAtheismTeachingNew YorkTaughtSourceWorshipFairsRegardOur ChildrenPositive AtheismTemplesCouncilProvisionStandpointTheologicalRevisionCanon
Author:Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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“A very wise father once remarked, that in the government of his children, he forbid as few things as possible; a wise legislature would do the same. It is folly to make laws on subjects beyond human prerogative, knowing that in the very nature of things they must be set aside. To make laws that man cannot and will not obey, serves to bring all law into contempt. It is very important in a republic, that the people should respect the laws, for if we throw them to the winds, what becomes of civil government?”

PeopleIfsMenShouldHumansChildrenImportantGovernmentLawFatherKnowingWiseAtheismSubjectsWindPositive AtheismFollyRepublicContemptLegislaturePrerogativeVery Wise
Author:Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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“We should not feel so sorely grieved if no man who had not attained the full stature of a Webster, Clay, Van Buren, or Gerrit Smith could claim the right of the elective franchise. But to have drunkards, idiots, horse-racing, rum-selling rowdies, ignorant foreigners, and silly boys fully recognized, while we ourselves are thrust out from all the rights that belong to citizens, it is too grossly insulting to the dignity of woman to be longer quietly submitted to.”

IfsMenFeelsShouldBoysRightsCitizensDignityClaimsHorseSillyIgnorantSellingIdiotRacingClayVansForeignersThrustInsultingStatureDrunkardsRumHorse RacingRowdySilly Boy
Book:The Elizabeth Cady Stanton-Susan B. Anthony reader: correspondence, writings, speeches
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“That only a few, under any circumstances, protest against the injustice of long-established laws and customs, does not disprove the fact of the oppressions, while the satisfaction of the many, if real only proves their apathy and deeper degradation.”

IfsLongDoeRealFactsLawCircumstancesProveEmpathyInjusticeSatisfactionDeeperOppressionProtestCustomsApathyDegradation
Book:Eighty Years and More: Reminiscences, 1815-1897
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“I am weary seeing our laboring classes so wretchedly housed, fed, and clothed, while thousands of dollars are wasted every year over unsightly statues. If these great man must have outdoor memorials, let them be in the form of handsome blocks of buildings for the poor”

IfsMenYearsFormPoorClassPovertySeeingBuildingDollarsBlockGreat MenFedsWearyHandsomeStatuesMemorial
Book:Elizabeth Cady Stanton as Revealed in Her Letters, Diary and Reminiscences
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“If all those magnificent cathedrals with their valuable lands in Boston, Philadelphia and New York were taxed as they should be, the taxes of women who hold property would be proportionately lightened....I cannot see any good reason why wealthy churches and a certain amount of property of the clergy should be exempt from taxation, while every poor widow in the land, struggling to feed, clothe, and educate a family of children, must be taxed on the narrow lot and humble home.”

IfsShouldChildrenReasonHomeWould BeCertainChurchPoorStruggleLandNew YorkAmountTaxesPropertyHumbleValuableReason WhyWealthyEducateMagnificentTaxationBostonWidowsPhiladelphiaCathedralsClergy
Author:Elizabeth Cady Stanton
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“American women of wealth, education, virtue and refinement, if you do not wish the lower orders of Chinese, Africans, Germans and Irish, with their low ideas of womanhood, to make laws for you and your daughters awake to the danger of your present position and demand that woman, too, shall be represented in the government!”

IfsIdeasGovernmentLawOrderWishWealthVirtueDangerPositionDemandLowsDaughterChineseAwakeWomanhoodRefinementOur DaughterYour DaughterAmerican Woman
Book:The Selected Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: Against an aristocracy of sex, 1866 to 1873
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