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Mary Astell

Mary Astell Quotes

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Mary Astell, born on November 12, 1666 and died on May 11, 1731, was an English writer and philosopher during the Enlightenment era. Known for her feminist ideas, she wrote extensively on issues such as women's education, religious faith, and moral philosophy, which had a profound impact on the feminist movement.

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All Men Ifs Thinking Fit Mean Be Good Body Design Doe Enough Heart May Mind Opinion Reason Self Sex Vices Way World

Famous Mary Astell Quotes

“If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?”

Men Women Freedom Feminism Equality Inequality Free Disrespect Slaves Opression

Author:Mary Astell

“A husband is indeed thought by both sexes so very valuable, that scarce a man who can keep himself clean and make a bow, but thinks he is good enough to pretend to any woman.”

Thinking Men Enough Sex Husband Clean Valuable Good Enough Bows Scarce

Book:Astell: Political Writings

Source: Astell: Political Writings

“Women are from their very infancy debarred those advantages with the want of which they are aftewards reproached, and nursed up in those vices which will hereafter be upbraided to them. So partial are men as to expect bricks when they afford no straw.”

Men Want Advantage Vices Womens Rights Bricks Hereafter Infancy Straws

Author:Mary Astell

“For my part I think the Learned, and Unlearned Blockhead pretty equal; for 'tis all one to me, whether a Man talk Nonsense, or unintelligible Sense, I am diverted and edified alike by either; the one enjoys himself less, but suffers his Friends to do it more; the other enjoys himself and his own Humour enough, but will let no body else do it in his Company.”

Thinking Men Enough Body Suffering Enjoy Company Humour Equal Nonsense Blockheads

Book:A Serious Proposal to the Ladies

Source: A Serious Proposal to the Ladies

“If all men are born free, why is it that all women are born slaves?”

Ifs Men Born Birth Slave Born Free

Author:Mary Astell

“If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopled.”

Ifs Men World Would Be Doubt Honour Strict Marry Me

Book:Astell: Political Writings

Source: Astell: Political Writings

“None of us whether Men or Women but have so good an Opinion of our own Conduct as to believe we are fit, if not to direct others, at least to govern our selves.”

Ifs Men Believe Self Opinion Fit Direct

Book:Astell: Political Writings

Source: Astell: Political Writings

“That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.”

Men Heart Be Good Endowment

Book:Astell: Political Writings

Source: Astell: Political Writings

“Although it has been said by men of more wit than wisdom, and perhaps more malice than either, that women are naturally incapable of acting prudently, or that they are necessarily determined to folly, I must by no means grant it.”

Men Mean Has Beens Said Acting Determined Wit Folly Grants Incapable Malice

Author:Mary Astell

“How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?”

Men Sex Opinion Wife

Book:Astell: Political Writings

Source: Astell: Political Writings