Quotes from the Works of Mary Astell.

Quotes from the Works of Mary Astell, Quotations
Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

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.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

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.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

Seeing it is ignorance, either habitual or actual, which is the cause of all Sin, how are they like to escape this, who are bred up in that? That therefore women are unprofitable to most, and a plague and dishonour to some Men is not much to be regretted on account of the Men, because 'tis the product of their own folly, in denying them the benefits of an ingenuous and liberal Education.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

'Tis very great pity that they who are so apt to over-rate themselves in smaller matters, shou'd, where it most concerns them to know, and stand upon their Value, be so insensible of their own worth.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

To introduce poor Children into the World, and neglect to fence them against the temptations of it, and so leave them expos'd to temporal and eternal Miseries, is a wickedness, for which I want a Name; 'tis beneath Brutality; the Beasts are better natur'd for they take care of their off-spring, till they are capable of caring for themselves.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part I

We ought as much as we can to endeavour the Perfecting of our Beings, and that we be as happy as possibly we may.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II. Ch. 1.

We all agree that its fit to be as Happy as we can, and we need no Instructor to teach us this Knowledge, 'tis born with us, and is inseparable from our Being, but we very much need to be Inform'd what is the true Way to Happiness.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II. Ch. 1.

It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II. Ch. 1.

The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passions to the Government of Reasons; to place our Subject in a Right Light, and excite our Hearers to a due consideration of it.
—A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Part II. Ch. 3.

To be yok'd for Life to a disagreeable Person and Temper; to have Folly and Ignorance tyrannize over Wit and Sense; to be contradicted in every thing one does or says, and bore down not by Reason but Authority; to be denied one's most innocent desires, for no other cause but the Will and Pleasure of an absolute Lord and Master, whose Follies a Woman with all her Prudence cannot hide, and whose Commands she cannot but despise at the same time she obeys them; is a misery none can have a just Idea of, but those who have felt it.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

Truth is bold and vehement; she depends upon her own strength, and so she be plac'd in a true Light, thinks it not necessary to use Artifice and Address as a Recommendation; but the prejudices of Men have made them necessary: their Imagination gets the better of their Understanding, and more judge according to Appearances, than search after the Truth of Things.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

He who does not make Friendship the chief inducement to his Choice [in a wife], and prefer it before any other consideration, does not deserve a good Wife, and therefore should not complain if he goes without one.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

And since the very best of us are but poor frail Creatures, full of Ignorance and Infirmity, so that in Justice we ought to tolerate each other, and exercise that Patience towards our Companions to Day, which we shall give them occasion to shew towards us to Morrow.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he won't practise himself.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

For what is that which now a days passes under the name of Wit? A bitter and ill-natur'd Raillery, a pert Repartee, or a confident talking at all, and in such a multitude of Words, it's odds if something or other does not pass that is surprizing, tho' every thing that surprizes does not please; some things being wonder'd at for their Ugliness, as well as others for their Beauty. True Wit, durst one venture to describe it, is quite another thing, it consists in such a Sprightliness of Imagination, such a reach and turn of thought, so properly exprest, as strikes and pleases a judicious Taste.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

That mistaken Self-Love that reigns in the most of us, both Men and Women, that over-good Opinion we have of our selves, and desire that others should have of us, makes us swallow every thing that looks like Respect, without examining how wide it is from what it appears to be.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

Let the business [of marriage] be carried as Prudently as it can be on the Woman's side, a reasonable Man can't deny that she has by much the harder bargain. Because she puts her self entirely into her Husband's Power, and if the Matrimonial Yoke be grievous, neither Law nor Custom afford her that redress which a Man obtains. He who has Sovereign Power does not value the Provocations of a Rebellious Subject, but knows how to subdue him with ease, and will make himself obey'd; but Patience and Submission are the only Comforts that are left to a poor People, who groan under Tyranny, unless they are Strong enough to break the Yoke, to Depose and Abdicate, which I doubt wou'd not be allow'd of here. For whatever may be said against Passive-Obedience in another case, I suppose there's no Man but likes it very well in this; how much soever Arbitrary Power may be dislik'd on a Throne, not Milton himself wou'd cry up Liberty to poor Female Slaves, or plead for the Lawfulness of Resisting a Private Tyranny.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

For under many sounding Compliments, Words that have nothing in them, this is his true meaning: he wants one to manage his Family, an House-keeper, a necessary Evil, one whose Interest it will be not to wrong him, and in whom therefore he can put greater confidence than in any he can hire for Money. One who may breed his Children, taking all the care and trouble of their Education, to preserve his Name and Family. One whose Beauty, Wit, or good Humour and agreeable Conversation, will entertain him at Home when he has been contradicted and disappointed abroad; who will do him that Justice the ill-natur'd World denies him, that is, in any one's Language but his own, sooth his Pride and Flatter his Vanity, by having always so much good Sense as to be on his side, to conclude him in the right, when others are so Ignorant, or so rude as to deny it. Who will not be Blind to his Merit nor contradict his Will and Pleasure, but make it her Business, her very Ambition to content him; whose softness and gentle Compliance will calm his Passions, to whom he may safely disclose his troublesome Thoughts, and in her Breast discharge his Cares; whose Duty, Submission and Observance, will heal those Wounds other People's opposition or neglect have given him. In a word, one whom he can entirely Govern, and consequently may form her to his will and liking, who must be his of Life, and therefore cannot quit his Service let him treat her how he will.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

What then is to be done? How must a Man choose, and what Qualities must incline a Woman to accept, that so our Married couple may be as happy as that State can make them? This is no hard Question; let the Soul be principally consider'd, and regard had in the first Place to a good Understanding, a Virtuous Mind, and in all other respects let there be as much equality as may be.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

For there is a mutual Stipulation, and Love, Honour, and Worship, by which certain Civility and Respect at least are meant, are as much the Woman's due, as Love, Honour, and Obedience are the Man's, and being the Woman is said to be the weaker Vessel, the Man shou'd be more careful not to grieve or offend her.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

None of us whether Men or Women but have so good an Opinion of our own Conduct as to believe we are fit, if not to direct others, at least to govern our selves.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

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.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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

Superiors don't rightly understand their own interest when they attempt to put out their Subjects Eyes to keep them Obedient. A Blind Obedience is what a Rational Creature shou'd never Pay, nor wou'd such an one receive it did he rightly understand its Nature.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

To plead for the Oppress'd and to defend the Weak seem'd to me a generous undertaking; for tho' it may be secure, 'tis not always Honourable to run over to the strongest party.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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?
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

Nor can the Apostle mean that Eve only sinned; or that she only was Deceived, for if Adam sinned willfully and knowingly, he became the greater Transgressor.
—Some Reflections upon Marriage

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.
—Letters Concerning the Love of God. Letter V.

The Span of Life is too short to be trifled away in unconcerning and unprofitable Matters.
—Letters Concerning the Love of God. Letter V.

When therefore I said that mental Pain is the same with Sin, I meant no more than this, that as a musical Instrument, if it were capable of Sense and Thought, would be uneasie and in pain when harsh discordant Notes are play'd upon it; so Man, when he breaks the Law of his Nature, and runs counter to those Motions his Maker has assign'd him, when he contradicts the Order and End of his Being must needs be in Pain and Misery.
—Letters Concerning the Love of God. Letter V.

We may not commit a lesser Sin under pretence to avoid a greater, but we may, nay we ought to endure the greatest Pain and Grief rather than commit the least Sin.
—Letters Concerning the Love of God. Letter V.

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.'
—The Christian Religion.

GOD is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him.
—The Christian Religion.

The Relation we bear to the Wisdom of the Father, the Son of His Love, gives us indeed a dignity which otherwise we have no pretence to. It makes us something, something considerable even in GOD's Eyes.
—The Christian Religion.

"Upon the principles of reason, the good of many is preferable to the good of a few or of one; a lasting good is to be preferred before a temporary, the public before the private."
—The Christian Religion.

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

It is not reasonable, and consequently not best, that my neighbour should endure an evil to procure to me a good not equal in degree to that evil, or that I should refuse pain or loss to procure for another a good that outweighs it. Much more am I obliged to deny myself a little good in order to obtain a great one for my neighbour, and also to suffer a less evil to keep him from a greater.
—The Christian Religion.

Every one knows, that the mind will not be kept from contemplating what it loves in the midst of crowds and business. Hence come those frequent absences, so observable in conversation; for whilst the body is confined to present company, the mind is flown to that which it delights in.
—The Christian Religion.

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 Christian Religion.

If God had not given us sufficient light to discern between the evil and the good, nor motives strong enough to incline us to pursue the one and to avoid the other; if He had not put happiness in our own choice, but had inevitably determined us to destruction, this indeed had been a want of mercy and goodness, if not a want of justice towards His creatures.
—The Christian Religion.

Where God has given but little light, no doubt He makes great allowances; this we may be sure of, that He is no hard master, nor requires an increase beyond the talents He has given us. But though the light shine ever so bright about us, we can have no vision unless we open our eyes. Tho' the motives are ever so strong and powerful yet they are but motives; they are most proper to persuade, but neither can or ought to compel.
—The Christian Religion.

Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion.
—An Impartial Enquiry into the Causes of Rebellion.

For the best way in our Great Men's Opinion, is to remove the Terrors of Religion, the Melancholy and Formal manner of treating it, and to render it so gentle, that it may not disturb us in any Jollity. This wou'd, doubtless, recommend it to Men of Wealth and Quality, who love their Ease and Pleasures, and can't endure the thought of being call'd to account for following their own Humour. And he who prepares the way to such noble Proselytes, must needs be thought to have done a considerable Service to Religion!
—Bart'lemy Fair.

	to Mary Astell
	to Restoration and 18th-C. Literature
	to Luminarium