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Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes

30 Revolutionary Quotes By Mary Wollstonecraft That Prove She Was Far Ahead Of Her Times

Famous As: Novelist

Born On: 1759

Died On: 1797

Born In: London, England

Died At Age: 38

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.

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I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.

I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.
Power I
Mary Wollstonecraft

[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.

[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.
Women Beautiful History
Mary Wollstonecraft

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.

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.

It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.
Women
Mary Wollstonecraft

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he just mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.

No man chooses evil because it is evil; he just mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.
Happiness
Mary Wollstonecraft

I never wanted but your heart--that gone, you have nothing more to give.

I never wanted but your heart--that gone, you have nothing more to give.
You Never I
Mary Wollstonecraft

Friendship is a serious affection; the most sublime of all affections, because it is founded on principle, and cemented by time.

Friendship is a serious affection; the most sublime of all affections, because it is founded on principle, and cemented by time.
Time
Mary Wollstonecraft

Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.

Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.
Will
Mary Wollstonecraft

Simplicity and sincerity generally go hand in hand, as both proceed from a love of truth.

Simplicity and sincerity generally go hand in hand, as both proceed from a love of truth.
Love
Mary Wollstonecraft

Surely something resides in this heart that is not perishable - and life is more than a dream.

Surely something resides in this heart that is not perishable - and life is more than a dream.
Life Heart
Mary Wollstonecraft

But what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an hypothesis!

But what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an hypothesis!
Mary Wollstonecraft

... judicious books enlarge the mind and improve the heart ...

... judicious books enlarge the mind and improve the heart ...
Heart Books
Mary Wollstonecraft

How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

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.

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.
Life Will I
Mary Wollstonecraft

My husband - my king.
Mary Wollstonecraft

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.

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.
Think Women
Mary Wollstonecraft

They may be convenient slaves, but slavery will have its constant effect, degrading the master and the abject dependent.

They may be convenient slaves, but slavery will have its constant effect, degrading the master and the abject dependent.
Will
Mary Wollstonecraft

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.

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.
Power
Mary Wollstonecraft

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?

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.

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.
Me Like Heart I
Mary Wollstonecraft

Those who are bold enough to advance before the age they live in...must learn to brave censure.

Those who are bold enough to advance before the age they live in...must learn to brave censure.
Mary Wollstonecraft

Only that education deserves emphatically to be termed cultivation of the mind which teaches young people how to begin to think.

Only that education deserves emphatically to be termed cultivation of the mind which teaches young people how to begin to think.
Think Young
Mary Wollstonecraft

Every glance afforded colouring for the picture she was delineating on her heart.

Every glance afforded colouring for the picture she was delineating on her heart.
Heart
Mary Wollstonecraft

But let me now stop; I may be a little partial, and view every thing with the jaundiced eye of melancholy - for I am sad - and have cause.

But let me now stop; I may be a little partial, and view every thing with the jaundiced eye of melancholy - for I am sad - and have cause.
Me I
Mary Wollstonecraft

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.

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.
Fear I
Mary Wollstonecraft

Čovječnost ne postoji "u preosjetljivu uhu", rekao je jedan istaknuti govornik. "Ona pripada umu i živcima.
I
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.

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.
Life
Mary Wollstonecraft

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.

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.
Soul
Mary Wollstonecraft