A collection of thoughts and quotes by Mary Wollstonecraft on feminism, activist, philosophy, writing, revolution, women, rights, empowerment and equality.
30 Revolutionary Quotes By Mary Wollstonecraft That Prove She Was Far Ahead Of Her Times
Mary Wollstonecraft was an English writer, women’s rights activist and philosopher, who lived in the 18th century. Although she proved to be an extremely versatile writer, she is best known for her women’s rights activism to the present day. Although she was born in a relatively well off family, Wollstonecraft’s family’s financial situation gradually worsened. Her father’s violent nature is considered to be one of the reasons behind her advocacy of women’s rights. Her most famous work is the book ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’, published in 1792 and the book proved to be far ahead of its time as far as the theories were concerned. Wollstonecraft argued that education was the only thing that separated men from woman and she advocated equality of men and women in all walks of life. She had also written a book titled ‘Vindication of the Rights of Men’. Besides being an accomplished novelist, she was also a travel writer and had also written a historical account of the ‘French Revolution’. Some of her noted novels include ‘Maria:or, The Wrongs of Woman’ and ‘Maria: A Fiction’. She was surely ahead of her times and inspired generations to work towards women empowerment. Here is a treasure trove of quotes extracted from her writings, works, books, sppeches and thoughts. Go through the sayings and quotations by Mary Wollstonecraft that will help you build a radical frame of mind.
[I]f we revert to history, we shall find that the women who have distinguished themselves have neither been the most beautiful nor the most gentle of their sex.
Taught from their infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison.
Mary Wollstonecraft
It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.
How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?
Mary Wollstonecraft
Independence I have long considered as the grand blessing of life, the basis of every virtue; and independence I will ever secure by contracting my wants, though I were to live on a barren heath.
Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to their sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority.
The power of generalizing ideas, of drawing comprehensive conclusions from individual observations, is the only acquirement, for an immortal being, that really deserves the name of knowledge.
What but a pestilential vapour can hover over society when its chief director is only instructed in the invention of crimes, or the stupid routine of childish ceremonies?
Mary Wollstonecraft
I like to see your eyes praise me and, during such recitals, there are interruptions, not ungrateful to the heart, when the honey that drops from the lips is not merely words.
And having no fear of the devil before
my eyes, I venture to call this a suggestion of reason, instead of resting my weakness on the broad shoulders of the first seducer of my frail sex.
Those who are bold enough to advance before the age they live in...must learn to brave censure.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Taxes on the very necessaries of life, enable an endless tribe of idle princes and princesses to pass with stupid pomp before a gaping crowd, who almost worship the very parade which costs them so dear.
True sensibility, the sensibility which is the auxiliary of virtue, and the soul of genius, is in society so occupied with the feelings of others, as scarcely to regard its own sensations.
