Mary Astell Quotes

Mary Astell (47)

Birth:	12th November, 1666
Death:	11th May, 1731
Nationality:	British
Profession:	Writer

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Today's Anniversary - 25th May

Births

• 1937 - Mark Shields
• 1939 - Ian McKellen
• 1897 - Gene Tunney
• 1944 - Tim Page
• 1929 - Beverly Sills

Deaths

• 1085 - Pope Gregory VII
• 2005 - Ismail Merchant
• 1993 - Vincent Price
• 1681 - Pedro Calderon de la Barca
• 2011 - Leonora Carrington

• 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.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Crowds, Contemplate, Company

• If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopled.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Wedding

  Tags in Marry

• 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.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Partly, Marry

• But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Wedding

  Tags in Husband, Woman, Alas, Marriage

• If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Wedding

  Tags in Honour, Obey, Marriage

• 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.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Wit, Malice, Prudently, Folly, Incapable

• 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.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Meanest, Contemptible, Insect

• Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Foundation, Ignorance

• 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.’

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Vain

• 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.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Garden

• If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Women

• God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him.

  Mary Astell

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Worthy

• Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds.

  Mary Astell

• Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best.

  Mary Astell

• Women are not so well united as to form an Insurrection. They are for the most part wise enough to love their Chains, and to discern how becomingly they fit.

  Mary Astell

• Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached.

  Mary Astell

• 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?

  Mary Astell

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

  Mary Astell

• We ought as much as we can to endeavour the Perfecting of our Beings, and that we be as happy as possibly we may.

  Mary Astell

• We must Think what we Say, and Mean what we Profess.

  Mary Astell