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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
Poor
Woman
Ever
Alas
Husband
Marriage
Design
Higher
Taught

More quotes by Mary Astell

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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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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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Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.
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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.
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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.
Mary Astell
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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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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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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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The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the greatest Insolence.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Whilst our Hearts are violently set upon any thing, there is no convincing us that we shall ever be of another Mind.
Mary Astell
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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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Nor can the Apostle mean that Eve only sinned or that she only was Deceived, for if Adam sinned willfully and knowingly, he became the greater Transgressor.
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If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.
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God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him.
Mary Astell