Mary Astell Quotes
Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached.
Marry for Love, an Heroick Action, which makes a mighty noise in the World, partly because of its rarity, and partly in regard of its extravagancy.
Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds.
To plead for the Oppress'd and to defend the Weak seem'd to me a generous undertaking; for tho' it may be secure, 'tis not always Honourable to run over to the strongest party.
The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the greatest Insolence.
Fetters of gold are still fetters, and the softest lining can never make them so easy as liberty.
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.
The Span of Life is too short to be trifled away in unconcerning and unprofitable Matters.
None of God's Creatures absolutely consider'd are in their own Nature Contemptible; the meanest Fly, the poorest Insect has its Use and Vertue.
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.
None of us whether Men or Women but have so good an Opinion of our own Conduct as to believe we are fit, if not to direct others, at least to govern our selves.
Women are not so well united as to form an Insurrection. They are for the most part wise enough to love their Chains, and to discern how becomingly they fit.
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.
Unhappy is that Grandeur which makes us too great to be good; and that Wit which sets us at a distance from true Wisdom.
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.
Whilst our Hearts are violently set upon any thing, there is no convincing us that we shall ever be of another Mind.
That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.
For certainly there cannot be a higher pleasure than to think that we love and are beloved by the most amiable and best Being.
A woman indeed can't properly be said to choose, all that is allowed her, is to refuse or accept what is offered.
Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.
But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?
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.
That which has not a real excellency and value in it self, entertains no longer than the giddy Humour which recommended it to us holds.
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.
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.
We ought as much as we can to endeavour the Perfecting of our Beings, and that we be as happy as possibly we may.
If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopled.
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?
Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.
. . . he who only or chiefly chose for Beauty, will in a little Time find the same Reason for another Choice.
Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best.
friendship is a virtue which comprehends all the rest; none being fit for this, who is not adorned with every other virtue.
