Mary Astell Quotes

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

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

Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail.

Unhappy is that Grandeur which makes us too great to be good; and that Wit which sets us at a distance from true Wisdom.

That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.

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

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.

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

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

But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?

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

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

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

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.

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

He who only or chiefly chose for Beauty, will in a little Time find the same Reason for another Choice.

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

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

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?

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.

None can be Tyrants but Cowards.

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

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

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

Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.'

Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.

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

God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him.

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

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

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