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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?

Mary Astell

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Mary Astell
Age: 64 †
Born: 1666
Born: November 12
Died: 1731
Died: May 11
Feminist
Philosopher
Writer
Newcastle
Design
Higher
Taught
Poor
Woman
Ever
Alas
Husband
Marriage

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We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.
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Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached.
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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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How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?
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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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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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friendship is a virtue which comprehends all the rest none being fit for this, who is not adorned with every other virtue.
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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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It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.
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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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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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. . . he who only or chiefly chose for Beauty, will in a little Time find the same Reason for another Choice.
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Unhappy is that Grandeur which makes us too great to be good and that Wit which sets us at a distance from true Wisdom.
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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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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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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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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.
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How can you be content to be in the world like tulips in a garden, to make a fine show, and be good for nothing.
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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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