Elizabeth Cady Stanton Quotes

Powerful Elizabeth Cady Stanton for Daily Growth

About Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was a trailblazing American suffragist, social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women's rights movement in the United States. Born to Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston Gage in Johnstown, New York, she grew up in an environment that fostered her intellectual curiosity. Her father, a lawyer and abolitionist, encouraged her education beyond the norm for women at the time. In 1840, Stanton married Henry Brewster Stanton, a theologian and abolitionist, with whom she had seven children. Their marriage was marked by mutual respect and shared passion for social reform. However, the couple's differing views on women's rights would later strain their relationship. In 1848, Stanton organized the Seneca Falls Convention along with Lucretia Mott, which is considered the start of the women's rights movement in America. The event resulted in the adoption of the Declaration of Sentiments, a groundbreaking document modeled after the Declaration of Independence that demanded equal rights for women. Stanton co-authored and edited the seven-volume "History of Woman Suffrage" (1881-1922) with Susan B. Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage, a comprehensive record of the early suffragist movement in America. Her most influential work, "The Woman's Bible," published between 1895 and 1898, was a feminist analysis of the Bible, challenging traditional interpretations that subjugated women. Despite facing numerous challenges, including backlash from her husband and society at large, Stanton remained steadfast in her pursuit of gender equality. Her impact on the women's rights movement cannot be overstated, paving the way for future generations to continue the fight for women's suffrage and equal rights.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The history of woman movement is the history of man's injustice and woman's struggle for liberty."

This quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton highlights the fundamental struggle between gender inequality and women's pursuit of freedom. The "woman's movement" she references encompasses the historical fight for equal rights, opportunities, and recognition. It underscores that many injustices towards women were perpetrated by men throughout history, prompting women to take up the mantle of struggle for their own liberty and equality.


"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal."

This quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement, reaffirms the universal principle of equality among all individuals, regardless of gender. It is a bold statement advocating for the recognition that men and women share equal status in the eyes of human rights, a concept not universally accepted during her time. The quote serves as a powerful reminder that equality is an inherent truth, self-evident, and should be upheld as the foundation of any just society.


"It is lamentable that to fully secure to women the exercise of their sacred right to the elective franchise, it may be necessary to take from the father the power to bestow it upon his daughter."

This quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton emphasizes a shift in societal norms regarding women's rights, specifically suffrage (the right to vote). By stating that it might be necessary for fathers to relinquish the power to grant their daughters the right to vote, she is suggesting that women should have the same privileges as men, and not be subjected to their father's discretion. It highlights the desire for equal political rights for all genders, challenging the traditional patriarchal structure where male authority was unquestioned in such matters.


"The highest qualifications for religion are humanity, charity, and a sense of justice."

In this quote, Elizabeth Cady Stanton suggests that the true measure of religious devotion lies not in adherence to specific doctrines or rituals, but in exhibiting qualities such as compassion, kindness, and a deep commitment to justice. This implies that one's religious beliefs should manifest in actions that uplift others and promote fairness within society. Essentially, she encourages people to practice their faith through empathy, generosity, and advocacy for the oppressed.


"So long as women shall be shut out from participation in the government, they will be the oppressed, not the rulers of the country."

This quote by Elizabeth Cady Stanton emphasizes that the exclusion of women from political decision-making roles perpetuates their subjugation. In other words, as long as women are denied the right to vote or hold political office, they will remain powerless and oppressed in a society, rather than being able to influence and govern it. The quote underscores the importance of women's participation in government for achieving gender equality and social justice.


The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Past, Long Struggle, Equality

The greatest block today in the way of woman's emancipation is the church, the canon law, the Bible and the priesthood.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Bible, Woman, Emancipation, Priesthood

The heyday of woman's life is the shady side of fifty.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Woman, Fifty, Side, Shady

Woman's discontent increases in exact proportion to her development.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Development, Increases, Discontent

Women of all classes are awakening to the necessity of self-support, but few are willing to do the ordinary useful work for which they are fitted.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Work, Willing, Which, Awakening

The religious superstitions of women perpetuate their bondage more than all other adverse influences.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Bondage, Other, Religious, Perpetuate

The more complete the despotism, the more smoothly all things move on the surface.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Move On, Surface, Move, Smoothly

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Equal, Created, Truths, Women Are

The prolonged slavery of women is the darkest page in human history.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

History, Slavery, Page, Human History

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Conservative, See, Wipe, Dew

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Tell, Floods, Divine, Flow

I thought that the chief thing to be done in order to equal boys was to be learned and courageous. So I decided to study Greek and learn to manage a horse.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Thought, Study, Greek, Manage

We found nothing grand in the history of the Jews nor in the morals inculcated in the Pentateuch. I know of no other books that so fully teach the subjection and degradation of woman.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Woman, Other, Inculcated, Fully

We are the only class in history that has been left to fight its battles alone, unaided by the ruling powers. White labor and the freed black men had their champions, but where are ours?

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Black, Champions, Been, Battles

Surely the immutable laws of the universe can teach more impressive and exalted lessons than the holy books of all the religions on earth.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Laws, Holy, Surely, Immutable

Words cannot describe the indignation a proud woman feels for her sex in disfranchisement.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Woman, Proud, Feels, Indignation

It is impossible for one class to appreciate the wrongs of another.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Appreciate, Another, Class

Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Duty, Self-Sacrifice, Than, Higher

Human beings lose their logic in their vindictiveness.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Lose, Logic, Human Beings, Vindictiveness

The woman is uniformly sacrificed to the wife and mother.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Mother, Mom, Woman, Sacrificed

To throw obstacles in the way of a complete education is like putting out the eyes.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Education, Throw, Putting, Complete

The whole tone of Church teaching in regard to women is, to the last degree, contemptuous and degrading.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Tone, Last, Degrading, Contemptuous

The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Bible, Been, Blocks, Emancipation

To make laws that man cannot, and will not obey, serves to bring all law into contempt.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Law, Laws, Contempt, Obey

To live for a principle, for the triumph of some reform by which all mankind are to be lifted up to be wedded to an idea may be, after all, the holiest and happiest of marriages.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Some, Principle, Which, Lifted

Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Judgment, Individual, Like, Strengthens

I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Reason, Always, Which, Perhaps

The memory of my own suffering has prevented me from ever shadowing one young soul with the superstition of the Christian religion.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Memory, Christian Religion, Superstition

I shall not grow conservative with age.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Age, Grow, Conservative, Shall

The best protection any woman can have... is courage.

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Courage, Best, Woman, Protection

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