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The Steps to Folly as well as Sin are gradual, and almost imperceptible, and when we are once on the Decline, we go down without taking notice on't.

Mary Astell

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Mary Astell
Age: 64 †
Born: 1666
Born: November 12
Died: 1731
Died: May 11
Feminist
Philosopher
Writer
Newcastle
Wells
Aggravation
Without
Decline
Well
Folly
Notice
Sin
Taking
Steps
Imperceptible
Almost
Gradual

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To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he won't practise himself.
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Tis very great pity that they who are so apt to over-rate themselves in smaller matters, shou'd, where it most concerns them to know, and stand upon their Value, be so insensible of their own worth.
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Why is Slavery so much condemn'd and strove against in one Case, and so highly applauded and held so necessary and so sacred in another?
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But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?
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The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passions to the Government of Reasons to place our Subject in a Right Light, and excite our Hearers to a due consideration of it.
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A woman indeed can't properly be said to choose, all that is allowed her, is to refuse or accept what is offered.
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It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.
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How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?
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If all men are born free, why is it that all women are born slaves?
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Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion.
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If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.
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We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.
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Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.
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If God had not intended that Women shou'd use their Reason, He wou'd not have given them any, 'for He does nothing in vain.
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We may not commit a lesser Sin under pretence to avoid a greater, but we may, nay we ought to endure the greatest Pain and Grief rather than commit the least Sin.
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Every one knows, that the mind will not be kept from contemplating what it loves in the midst of crowds and business. Hence come those frequent absences, so observable in conversation for whilst the body is confined to present company, the mind is flown to that which it delights in.
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Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best.
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Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.
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Whilst our Hearts are violently set upon any thing, there is no convincing us that we shall ever be of another Mind.
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Hitherto I have courted Truth with a kind of Romantick Passion, in spite of all Difficulties and Discouragements: for knowledge is thought so unnecessary an Accomplishment for a Woman, that few will give themselves the Trouble to assist us in the Attainment of it.
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