Mary Astell Quotes

If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.

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.

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.

The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator.

If all men are born free, why is it that all women are born slaves?

For my part I think the Learned, and Unlearned Blockhead pretty equal; for 'tis all one to me, whether a Man talk Nonsense, or unintelligible Sense, I am diverted and edified alike by either; the one enjoys himself less, but suffers his Friends to do it more; the other enjoys himself and his own Humour enough, but will let no body else do it in his Company.

Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion.

It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.

'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.

If absolute sovereignty be not necessary in a State, how comes it to be so in a family?

Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached.

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.

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.

A husband is indeed thought by both sexes so very valuable, that scarce a man who can keep himself clean and make a bow, but thinks he is good enough to pretend to any woman ...

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.

Friendship is a virtue which comprehends all the rest; none being fit for this, who is not adorned with every other virtue.

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?

For certainly there cannot be a higher pleasure than to think that we love and are beloved by the most amiable and best Being.

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.

Upon the principles of reason, the good of many is preferable to the good of a few or of one; a lasting good is to be preferred before a temporary, the public before the private.

We all agree that its fit to be as Happy as we can, and we need no Instructor to teach us this Knowledge, 'tis born with us, and is inseparable from our Being, but we very much need to be Inform'd what is the true Way to Happiness.

We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.

He who will be just, must be forc'd to acknowledge, that neither Sex are always in the right.

A woman indeed can't properly be said to choose, all that is allowed her, is to refuse or accept what is offered.

The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the greatest Insolence.

The Span of Life is too short to be trifled away in unconcerning and unprofitable Matters.

If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopled.

We ought as much as we can to endeavour the Perfecting of our Beings, and that we be as happy as possibly we may.

The Relation we bear to the Wisdom of the Father, the Son of His Love, gives us indeed a dignity which otherwise we have no pretence to. It makes us something, something considerable even in God's Eyes.

How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?

Fetters of gold are still fetters, and the softest lining can never make them so easy as liberty.

Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds.

Although it has been said by men of more wit than wisdom, and perhaps more malice than either, that women are naturally incapable of acting prudently, or that they are necessarily determined to folly, I must by no means grant it.

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.