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Mary Astell Quotes

Powerful Mary Astell for Daily Growth

About Mary Astell

Mary Astell (1666-1731), an influential English philosopher, writer, and women's rights advocate, was a pioneering figure in the fight for gender equality during the late-Stuart and early Hanoverian periods. Born on June 20, 1666, in Newport, England, Astell spent her early years immersed in her father's extensive library, fostering her intellectual curiosity and passion for learning. Astell's life was marked by hardship, having been orphaned at a young age. After the death of her mother, she was left to the mercy of relatives who often treated her harshly. Despite these difficulties, Astell managed to receive an education in theology, metaphysics, and politics, unusual for women of her time. Astell's most significant works include "Some Reflections upon Marriage" (1700) and "The Serious Proposal to the Ladies" (1710). In these groundbreaking texts, she advocated for women's education, equal rights, and spiritual autonomy. She argued that women were capable of intellectual pursuits and should not be restricted by societal norms, particularly in marriage, which she viewed as oppressive. Astell's influence extended beyond her written works. Her correspondence with notable figures such as John Locke and Bishop Burnet showcased her intellect and ability to engage in complex philosophical discussions. Despite the challenges she faced due to her gender, Astell emerged as a powerful voice for women's rights, paving the way for future generations of feminists. Mary Astell died on July 21, 1731, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and empower today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The Greatest Wisdom is to know oneself."

This quote by Mary Astell emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge, suggesting that understanding one's own character, motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and values is a crucial form of wisdom. Self-awareness allows individuals to make informed decisions, navigate life effectively, and cultivate personal growth. In essence, knowing oneself is the foundation for living a meaningful and fulfilling life.

"Men may rule, but they can hardly govern, without Women's help; Sense, Dexterity and Constancy being the Qualities which fit them for useful Assistants."

This quote highlights Mary Astell's belief in women's essential role in societal governance. She suggests that while men may hold positions of power, they often lack the practical skills necessary to govern effectively. Women, according to Astell, possess qualities such as sense (intelligence), dexterity (skillfulness), and constancy (perseverance) which make them indispensable in assisting men in governing. This quote underscores Astell's belief that women should be recognized for their contributions to society beyond traditional domestic roles.

"The World has been too long in the Government of Men, and it would be a little more than its due, if it were now put into the Hands of Women to make trial of it."

This quote by Mary Astell suggests a call for women's equality and participation in government and leadership roles, challenging the traditional societal norms that had restricted women's rights. She implies that men have held power long enough and it is now time to experiment with female leadership, as a fair balance, hinting at women's potential competence and wisdom in governance.

"I desire not only to be loved, but to be understood."

This quote emphasizes a deep yearning for emotional connection that transcends mere affection. Mary Astell expresses her desire not just for others to love her, but to truly understand her – to comprehend her thoughts, feelings, and experiences on a profound level. This kind of understanding fosters empathy and strengthens relationships, making them more meaningful and satisfying.

"Let us then endeavor to teach men by our lives what we preach by our words, and thus set a living, breathing, exemplary Gospel before them."

This quote by Mary Astell encourages individuals to practice what they preach and live by example in their daily lives. By demonstrating the values and beliefs they espouse through their actions, people can create a more authentic and impactful influence on others, effectively setting an "exemplary Gospel" that teaches and inspires more effectively than mere words alone.

The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passions to the Government of Reasons; to place our Subject in a Right Light, and excite our Hearers to a due consideration of it.

- Mary Astell

Reasons, Reduce, Prejudices, Excite

Every one knows, that the mind will not be kept from contemplating what it loves in the midst of crowds and business. Hence come those frequent absences, so observable in conversation; for whilst the body is confined to present company, the mind is flown to that which it delights in.

- Mary Astell

Crowds, Confined, Frequent, Contemplating

Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.

- Mary Astell

Education, Vice, Rear, Narrow

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.

- Mary Astell

Love, Chains, United, Discern

Whilst our Hearts are violently set upon any thing, there is no convincing us that we shall ever be of another Mind.

- Mary Astell

Mind, Set, Violently, Whilst

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.

- Mary Astell

Always, Over, May, Plead

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.

- Mary Astell

Nature, Creatures, Use, Meanest

Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail.

- Mary Astell

Truth, Strong, Sometime, Prevail

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.

- Mary Astell

Rest, Always, Which, Expects

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.

- Mary Astell

Been, Folly, Necessarily, Incapable

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.

- Mary Astell

Love, Marry, Which, Mighty

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.

- Mary Astell

Real, Which, Recommended, Giddy

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.

- Mary Astell

World, How, Like, Garden

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.

- Mary Astell

Became, Adam, Nor, Sinned

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

- Mary Astell

Very, Which, Afterwards, Debarred

'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.

- Mary Astell

Own, Very, Smaller, Tis

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.

- Mary Astell

Need, Very, Inseparable, Tis

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

- Mary Astell

Life Is Too Short, Away, Too, Span

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

- Mary Astell

Doubt, Marry, Honour, Strict

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

- Mary Astell

Treat, People, Tyrannical, Insolence

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

- Mary Astell

Happy, May, Perfecting, Possibly

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.

- Mary Astell

Woman, Thought, Spite, Courted

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.

- Mary Astell

Pain, May, Rather, Lesser

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

- Mary Astell

Love, Think, Certainly, Beloved

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?

- Mary Astell

Necessary, Applauded, Held, Highly

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.

- Mary Astell

Gradual, Folly, Almost, Notice

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

- Mary Astell

Men, How, Slaves, Women Are

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.

- Mary Astell

Reason, Temporary, Private, Preferred

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.

- Mary Astell

Love, Which, Otherwise, Considerable

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

- Mary Astell

She, Her, Creator, Affections

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