But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?
Mary AstellRead
How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?
Interpretation
Respect in marriage is fundamental and cannot coexist with negative views.
Mary Astell's quote emphasizes the importance of respect within a marriage, suggesting that a man cannot truly respect his wife if he holds a low opinion of her or women in general. It highlights the detrimental effects of misogyny on relationships, pointing out that mutual respect is essential for a healthy partnership.
In practice
This quote could serve as a poignant reminder during a discussion on gender equality.
But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?
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.
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.
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.
At any age, we struggle with intimacy. When you're a kid, you think, 'I won't have that problem. I'll have sex whenever I want when I'm a grown-up!' And then, somehow, it doesn't quite turn out that way, and it's so surprising to people that connection remains so challenging even when you're married.
Do you ever wonder whether people would like you more or less if they could see inside you?
I've never had a divorce, but I've seen so many of my friends, my sister, my family go through that stuff, so I try to write for the people that can't write about it. I take on their sorrow, so I'm able to kind of express it, or their joy.
We hurt people that love us, love people that hurt us
In a good relationship, people get angry, but in a very different way. The Marriage Masters see a problem a bit like a soccer ball. They kick it around. It's 'our' problem.
If our sex life were determined by our first youthful experiments, most of the world would be doomed to celibacy. In no area of human experience are human beings more convinced that something better can be had only if they persevere.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.