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Quote by Christine de Pizan

“Does a rake deserve to possess anything of worth, since he chases everything in skirts and then imagines he can successfully hide his shame by slandering [women in general]?”

Quote by Christine de Pizan

Author

Christine de Pizan

Christine de Pizan was a renowned French author, considered one of the most outstanding female writers of the Middle Ages. Born in 1364 and died in 1430, her works covered various fields, including philosophy, history, and literature. more

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“Just as women's bodies are softer than men's, so their understanding is sharper.”

Men Body Understanding Women Women's Bodies

Author:Christine de Pizan

“Not all men (and especially the wisest) share the opinion that it is bad for women to be educated. But it is very true that many foolish men have claimed this because it displeased them that women knew more than they did.”

Men Opinion Share Empowerment Foolish Educated Women Empowerment Wisest Suppression Wise Women Very True Displeasure Foolish Man

Book:The Book of the City of Ladies

Source: The Book of the City of Ladies

“How many women are there ... who because of their husbands' harshness spend their weary lives in the bond of marriage in greater suffering than if they were slaves among the Saracens?”

Ifs Suffering Greater Husband Slave Weary Harshness

Book:The Book of the City of Ladies

Source: The Book of the City of Ladies

“If you would reflect well and wisely, you would realize that those events you regard as personal misfortunes have served a useful purpose even in this worldly life, and indeed have worked for your betterment.”

Ifs Wells Purpose Realizing Events Regard Misfortunes Worldly Betterment Worldly Life

Author:Christine de Pizan

“The foolish rush to end their lives. Only the steadfast soul survives.”

Inspirational Soul Ends Foolish Steadfast

Author:Christine de Pizan

“If it were customary to send little girls to school and teach them the same subjects as are taught to boys, they would learn just as fully and would understand the subtleties of all arts and sciences.”

Ifs Littles Art School Girl Boys Teach Subjects Taught Subtlety Art And Science

Author:Christine de Pizan

“Women particularly should concern themselves with peace because men by nature are more foolhardy and headstrong, and their overwhelming desire to avenge themselves prevents them from foreseeing the resulting dangers and terrors of war. But woman by nature is more gentle and circumspect. Therefore, if she has sufficient will and wisdom she can provide the best possible means to pacify man.”

Ifs Men Should Mean War Desire Danger Concern Terror Gentle Sufficient Overwhelming Foolhardy Headstrong Foreseeing Overwhelming Desire

Author:Christine de Pizan

“There Adam slept, and God formed the body of woman from one of his ribs, signifying that she should stand at his side as a companion and never lie at his feet like a slave, and also that he should love her as his own flesh.”

Should Body Lying Sides Feet Slave Flesh Companion Adam Ribs Never Lie Signifying

Book:The Book of the City of Ladies

Source: The Book of the City of Ladies

“Once a man criticized my desire for knowledge by saying that it was not fitting for a woman to possess learning because there was so little of it. I replied that it was even less fitting for a man to possess ignorance because there was so much of it.”

Men Littles Desire Ignorance Fitting Desire For Knowledge Not Fitting

Author:Christine de Pizan

“Condemning all women in order to help some misguided men get over their foolish behaviour is tantamount to denouncing fire, which is a vital and beneficial element, just because some people are burnt by it, or to cursing water just because some people are drowned in it.”

People Men Helping Order Water Fire Elements Foolish Behaviour Get Over Beneficial Misguided Condemning Cursing

Author:Christine de Pizan