I have often thought of it as one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantages of learning to women.
Interpretation
The quote criticizes the denial of educational opportunities for women in a supposedly civilized society.
In this quote, Daniel Defoe highlights the hypocrisy of a society that claims to be civilized and Christian while simultaneously denying women access to education. He argues that this practice is not only barbarous but also detrimental to the progress of society as a whole, suggesting that true civilization should prioritize learning for all individuals, regardless of gender.
In practice
In a speech advocating for equal education policies, one might quote Defoe to emphasize the importance of women's education.
These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships and misfortunes ; and this part also I cannot but recommend to the reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had thought fit.
And which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.
Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself when apparent to the eyes ; and we find the burden of anxiety greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious about.
I hear much of people's calling out to punish the guilty, but very few are concerned to clear the innocent.
All men would be tyrants if they could.
A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry.
A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.
I think that what we need to do is say, 'Reading is going to really affect your life.' You take a black man who doesn't have a job, but you say to him, 'Look, you can make a difference in your child's life, just by reading to him for 30 minutes a day.' That's what I would like to do.
You don't teach morals and ethics and empathy and kindness in the schools. You teach that at home, and children learn by example.
I long for the time when all human history is taught as one history, because it really is.
The best way to get started on the path of sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others.
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