Mary Wollstonecraft
English moral and political philosopher (1759 to 1797); author of A Vindication of the Rights of Men (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792).
Mary Wollstonecraft did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsThe civilization which has taken place in Europe has been very partial, and, like every custom that an arbitrary point of honour has established, refines the manners at the expence of morals, by making sentiments and opinions current in conversation that have no root in the heart, or weight in the cooler resolves of the mind.
↗A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)en.wikisource.org 1st of 5 in this piece
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Their wordsSecurity of property! Behold, in a few words, the definition of English liberty. And to this selfish principle every nobler one is sacrificed.
↗A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)en.wikisource.org 2nd of 5 in this piece
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Our reading
Their wordsThe passions are necessary auxiliaries of reason: a present impulse pushes us forward, and when we discover that the game did not deserve the chace, we find that we have gone over much ground, and not only gained many new ideas, but a habit of thinking.
↗A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)en.wikisource.org 3rd of 5 in this piece
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Their wordsProperty, I do not scruple to aver it, should be fluctuating, which would be the case, if it were more equally divided amongst all the children of a family; else it is an everlasting rampart, in consequence of a barbarous feudal institution, that enables the elder son to overpower talents and depress virtue.
↗A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)en.wikisource.org 4th of 5 in this piece
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Their wordsThe only security of property that nature authorizes and reason sanctions is, the right a man has to enjoy the acquisitions which his talents and industry have acquired; and to bequeath them to whom he chooses.
↗A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)en.wikisource.org 5th of 5 in this piece
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