Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes
Mary Wollstonecraft was an 18th-century English writer and philosopher, regarded as one of the founding figures of modern feminist political thought. Her 1792 work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman argued that women appear inferior to men only because they are denied education, and called for legal and political equality on Enlightenment grounds. The quotes below are attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft, organized by topic.
Mary Wollstonecraft on Freedom
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves.”
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“How can a being be generous who has nothing of its own? Or virtuous who is not free?”
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Make them free, and they will quickly become wise and virtuous.”
Mary Wollstonecraft on Justice
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world.”
Mary Wollstonecraft on Knowledge
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Genius will educate itself.”
Mary Wollstonecraft on Love
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“I am tired of moving from bad to worse, when one quiet moment with a frank, faithful man would be a treasure.”
Mary Wollstonecraft on Mind
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.”
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“The mind will ever be unstable that has only prejudices to rest on, and the current will run with destructive fury when there are no barriers to break its force.”
Mary Wollstonecraft on Virtue
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Virtue can only flourish among equals.”
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Attributed to Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Reason is, indeed, the only foundation of morality.”