The work of woman is not to lessen the severity or the certainty of the penalty for the violation of the moral law, but to prevent this violation by the removal of the causes which lead to it.
If women will not accept marriage with subjection, nor men proffer it without, there is, there can be, no alternative. The women who will not be ruled must live without marriage. And during this transition period... single women make comfortable and attractive homes for themselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of equality in marriage and suggests that women should value their independence if they cannot find it.
Susan B. Anthony's quote highlights the need for mutual respect and equality within the institution of marriage. She expresses that if women refuse to enter into relationships that require them to submit to their partners and men are unwilling to offer partnerships based on equality, then women should choose to remain single. This reflects a broader message about women's autonomy and the evolving nature of relationships, suggesting that single women can create fulfilling lives and homes for themselves without reliance on marriage.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the evolving roles of women in modern society.
More from Susan B. Anthony
All quotes →The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not.
I have given my life and all I am to it, and now I want my last act to be to give it all I have, to the last cent.
The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race.
Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.
We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.
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All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
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What does the truth matter? Haven't we mothers all given our sons a taste for lies, lies which from the cradle upwards lull them, reassure them, send them to sleep: lies as soft and warm as a breast!
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