Mary Astell Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the greatest Insolence.”

“It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.”

“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.'”

“That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.”

“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.”

“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?”

“'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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”