第2章

Theeducationofwomenhas,oflate,beenmoreattendedtothanformerly;yettheyarestillreckonedafrivoloussex,andridiculedorpitiedbythewriterswhoendeavourbysatireorinstructiontoimprovethem。Itisacknowledgedthattheyspendmanyofthefirstyearsoftheirlivesinacquiringasmatteringofaccomplishments:meanwhile,strengthofbodyandmindaresacrificedtolibertinenotionsofbeauty,tothedesireofestablishingthemselves,theonlywaywomencanriseintheworld——bymarriage。Andthisdesiremakingmereanimalsofthem,whentheymarry,theyactassuchchildrenmaybeexpectedtoact:

theydress;theypaint,andnicknameGod"screatures。Surelytheseweakbeingsareonlyfitfortheseraglio！Cantheygovernafamily,ortakecareofthepoorbabeswhomtheybringintotheworld？

Ifthenitcanbefairlydeducedfromthepresentconductofthesex,fromtheprevalentfondnessforpleasure,whichtakesplaceofambitionandthosenoblerpassionsthatopenandenlargethesoul;

thattheinstructionwhichwomenhavereceivedhasonlytended,withtheconstitutionofcivilsociety,torendertheminsignificantobjectsofdesire;merepropagatorsoffools！ifitcanbeproved,thatinaimingtoaccomplishthem,withoutcultivatingtheirunderstandings,theyaretakenoutoftheirsphereofduties,andmaderidiculousanduselesswhentheshortlivedbloomofbeautyisover*,IpresumethatRATIONALmenwillexcusemeforendeavouringtopersuadethemtobecomemoremasculineandrespectable。

（*Footnote。Alivelywriter,Icannotrecollecthisname,askswhatbusinesswomenturnedoffortyhavetodointheworld。）

Indeedthewordmasculineisonlyabugbear:thereislittlereasontofearthatwomenwillacquiretoomuchcourageorfortitude;fortheirapparentinferioritywithrespecttobodilystrength,mustrenderthem,insomedegree,dependentonmeninthevariousrelationsoflife;butwhyshoulditbeincreasedbyprejudicesthatgiveasextovirtue,andconfoundsimpletruthswithsensualreveries？

Womenare,infact,somuchdegradedbymistakennotionsoffemaleexcellence,thatIdonotmeantoaddaparadoxwhenIassert,thatthisartificialweaknessproducesapropensitytotyrannize,andgivesbirthtocunning,thenaturalopponentofstrength,whichleadsthemtoplayoffthosecontemptibleinfantileairsthatundermineesteemevenwhilsttheyexcitedesire。Donotfostertheseprejudices,andtheywillnaturallyfallintotheirsubordinate,yetrespectablestationinlife。

Itseemsscarcelynecessarytosay,thatInowspeakofthesexingeneral。Manyindividualshavemoresensethantheirmalerelatives;and,asnothingpreponderateswherethereisaconstantstruggleforanequilibrium,withoutithasnaturallymoregravity,somewomengoverntheirhusbandswithoutdegradingthemselves,becauseintellectwillalwaysgovern。

VINDICATIONOFTHERIGHTSOFWOMAN

CHAPTER1。

THERIGHTSANDINVOLVEDDUTIESOFMANKINDCONSIDERED。

Inthepresentstateofsociety,itappearsnecessarytogobacktofirstprinciplesinsearchofthemostsimpletruths,andtodisputewithsomeprevailingprejudiceeveryinchofground。Toclearmyway,Imustbeallowedtoasksomeplainquestions,andtheanswerswillprobablyappearasunequivocalastheaxiomsonwhichreasoningisbuilt;though,whenentangledwithvariousmotivesofaction,theyareformallycontradicted,eitherbythewordsorconductofmen。

Inwhatdoesman"spre—eminenceoverthebrutecreationconsist？

Theanswerisasclearasthatahalfislessthanthewhole;inReason。

Whatacquirementexaltsonebeingaboveanother？Virtue;wespontaneouslyreply。

Forwhatpurposewerethepassionsimplanted？Thatmanbystrugglingwiththemmightattainadegreeofknowledgedeniedtothebrutes:whispersExperience。

Consequentlytheperfectionofournatureandcapabilityofhappiness,mustbeestimatedbythedegreeofreason,virtue,andknowledge,thatdistinguishtheindividual,anddirectthelawswhichbindsociety:andthatfromtheexerciseofreason,knowledgeandvirtuenaturallyflow,isequallyundeniable,ifmankindbeviewedcollectively。

Therightsanddutiesofmanthussimplified,itseemsalmostimpertinenttoattempttoillustratetruthsthatappearsoincontrovertible:yetsuchdeeplyrootedprejudiceshavecloudedreason,andsuchspuriousqualitieshaveassumedthenameofvirtues,thatitisnecessarytopursuethecourseofreasonasithasbeenperplexedandinvolvedinerror,byvariousadventitiouscircumstances,comparingthesimpleaxiomwithcasualdeviations。

Men,ingeneral,seemtoemploytheirreasontojustifyprejudices,whichtheyhaveimbibed,theycannottracehow,ratherthantorootthemout。Themindmustbestrongthatresolutelyformsitsownprinciples;forakindofintellectualcowardiceprevailswhichmakesmanymenshrinkfromthetask,oronlydoitbyhalves。Yettheimperfectconclusionsthusdrawn,arefrequentlyveryplausible,becausetheyarebuiltonpartialexperience,onjust,thoughnarrow,views。

Goingbacktofirstprinciples,viceskulks,withallitsnativedeformity,fromcloseinvestigation;butasetofshallowreasonersarealwaysexclaimingthattheseargumentsprovetoomuch,andthatameasurerottenatthecoremaybeexpedient。Thusexpediencyiscontinuallycontrastedwithsimpleprinciples,tilltruthislostinamistofwords,virtueinforms,andknowledgerenderedasoundingnothing,bythespeciousprejudicesthatassumeitsname。

Thatthesocietyisformedinthewisestmanner,whoseconstitutionisfoundedonthenatureofman,strikes,intheabstract,everythinkingbeingsoforcibly,thatitlookslikepresumptiontoendeavourtobringforwardproofs;thoughproofmustbebrought,orthestrongholdofprescriptionwillneverbeforcedbyreason;yettourgeprescriptionasanargumenttojustifythedeprivingmen（orwomen）oftheirnaturalrights,isoneoftheabsurdsophismswhichdailyinsultcommonsense。

ThecivilizationofthebulkofthepeopleofEurope,isverypartial;nay,itmaybemadeaquestion,whethertheyhaveacquiredanyvirtuesinexchangeforinnocence,equivalenttothemiseryproducedbythevicesthathavebeenplasteredoverunsightlyignorance,andthefreedomwhichhasbeenbarteredforsplendidslavery。Thedesireofdazzlingbyriches,themostcertainpre—eminencethatmancanobtain,thepleasureofcommandingflatteringsycophants,andmanyothercomplicatedlowcalculationsofdotingself—love,haveallcontributedtooverwhelmthemassofmankind,andmakelibertyaconvenienthandleformockpatriotism。

Forwhilstrankandtitlesareheldoftheutmostimportance,beforewhichGenius"musthideitsdiminishedhead,"itis,withafewexceptions,veryunfortunateforanationwhenamanofabilities,withoutrankorproperty,pusheshimselfforwardtonotice。Alas！whatunheardofmiseryhavethousandssufferedtopurchaseacardinal"shatforanintriguingobscureadventurer,wholongedtoberankedwithprinces,orlorditoverthembyseizingthetriplecrown！

Such,indeed,hasbeenthewretchednessthathasflowedfromhereditaryhonours,riches,andmonarchy,thatmenoflivelysensibilityhavealmostutteredblasphemyinordertojustifythedispensationsofprovidence。Manhasbeenheldoutasindependentofhispowerwhomadehim,orasalawlessplanetdartingfromitsorbittostealthecelestialfireofreason;andthevengeanceofheaven,lurkinginthesubtileflame,sufficientlypunishedhistemerity,byintroducingevilintotheworld。

Impressedbythisviewofthemiseryanddisorderwhichpervadedsociety,andfatiguedwithjostlingagainstartificialfools,Rousseaubecameenamouredofsolitude,and,beingatthesametimeanoptimist,helabourswithuncommoneloquencetoprovethatmanwasnaturallyasolitaryanimal。MisledbyhisrespectforthegoodnessofGod,whocertainlyforwhatmanofsenseandfeelingcandoubtit！gavelifeonlytocommunicatehappiness,heconsidersevilaspositive,andtheworkofman;notawarethathewasexaltingoneattributeattheexpenseofanother,equallynecessarytodivineperfection。

Rearedonafalsehypothesis,hisargumentsinfavourofastateofnatureareplausible,butunsound。Isayunsound;fortoassertthatastateofnatureispreferabletocivilizationinallitspossibleperfection,is,inotherwords,toarraignsupremewisdom;

andtheparadoxicalexclamation,thatGodhasmadeallthingsright,andthatevilhasbeenintroducedbythecreaturewhomheformed,knowingwhatheformed,isasunphilosophicalasimpious。

WhenthatwiseBeing,whocreatedusandplacedushere,sawthefairidea,hewilled,byallowingittobeso,thatthepassionsshouldunfoldourreason,becausehecouldseethatpresentevilwouldproducefuturegood。Couldthehelplesscreaturewhomhecalledfromnothing,breakloosefromhisprovidence,andboldlylearntoknowgoodbypractisingevilwithouthispermission？No。

Howcouldthatenergeticadvocateforimmortalityarguesoinconsistently？Hadmankindremainedforeverinthebrutalstateofnature,whichevenhismagicpencannotpaintasastateinwhichasinglevirtuetookroot,itwouldhavebeenclear,thoughnottothesensitiveunreflectingwanderer,thatmanwasborntorunthecircleoflifeanddeath,andadornGod"sgardenforsomepurposewhichcouldnoteasilybereconciledwithhisattributes。

Butif,tocrownthewhole,thereweretoberationalcreaturesproduced,allowedtoriseinexcellencybytheexerciseofpowersimplantedforthatpurpose;ifbenignityitselfthoughtfittocallintoexistenceacreatureabovethebrutes,whocouldthinkandimprovehimself,whyshouldthatinestimablegift,foragiftitwas,ifamanwassocreatedastohaveacapacitytoriseabovethestateinwhichsensationproducedbrutalease,becalled,indirectterms,acurse？Acurseitmightbereckoned,ifallourexistencewasboundedbyourcontinuanceinthisworld;forwhyshouldthegraciousfountainoflifegiveuspassions,andthepowerofreflecting,onlytoembitterourdays,andinspireuswithmistakennotionsofdignity？Whyshouldheleadusfromloveofourselvestothesublimeemotionswhichthediscoveryofhiswisdomandgoodnessexcites,ifthesefeelingswerenotsetinmotiontoimproveournature,ofwhichtheymakeapart,andrenderuscapableofenjoyingamoregodlikeportionofhappiness？FirmlypersuadedthatnoevilexistsintheworldthatGoddidnotdesigntotakeplace,IbuildmybeliefontheperfectionofGod。

Rousseauexertshimselftoprove,thatallWASrightoriginally:acrowdofauthorsthatallISnowright:andI,thatallWILLBE

right。

But,truetohisfirstposition,nexttoastateofnature,Rousseaucelebratesbarbarism,and,apostrophizingtheshadeofFabricius,heforgetsthat,inconqueringtheworld,theRomansneverdreamedofestablishingtheirownlibertyonafirmbasis,orofextendingthereignofvirtue。Eagertosupporthissystem,hestigmatizes,asvicious,everyeffortofgenius;andutteringtheapotheosisofsavagevirtues,heexaltsthosetodemigods,whowerescarcelyhuman——thebrutalSpartans,whoindefianceofjusticeandgratitude,sacrificed,incoldblood,theslavesthathadshownthemselvesmentorescuetheiroppressors。

Disgustedwithartificialmannersandvirtues,thecitizenofGeneva,insteadofproperlysiftingthesubject,threwawaythewheatwiththechaff,withoutwaitingtoinquirewhethertheevils,whichhisardentsoulturnedfromindignantly,weretheconsequenceofcivilization,orthevestigesofbarbarism。Hesawvicetramplingonvirtue,andthesemblanceofgoodnesstakingplaceofthereality;hesawtalentsbentbypowertosinisterpurposes,andneverthoughtoftracingthegiganticmischiefuptoarbitrarypower,uptothehereditarydistinctionsthatclashwiththementalsuperioritythatnaturallyraisesamanabovehisfellows。Hedidnotperceive,thattheregalpower,inafewgenerations,introducesidiotismintothenoblestem,andholdsoutbaitstorenderthousandsidleandvicious。

Nothingcansettheregalcharacterinamorecontemptiblepointofview,thanthevariouscrimesthathaveelevatedmentothesupremedignity。Vileintrigues,unnaturalcrimes,andeveryvicethatdegradesournature,havebeenthestepstothisdistinguishedeminence;yetmillionsofmenhavesupinelyallowedthenervelesslimbsoftheposterityofsuchrapaciousprowlers,torestquietlyontheirensanguinedthrones。

Whatbutapestilentialvapourcanhoveroversociety,whenitschiefdirectorisonlyinstructedintheinventionofcrimes,orthestupidroutineofchildishceremonies？Willmenneverbewise？

willtheyneverceasetoexpectcornfromtares,andfigsfromthistles？

Itisimpossibleforanyman,whenthemostfavourablecircumstancesconcur,toacquiresufficientknowledgeandstrengthofmindtodischargethedutiesofaking,entrustedwithuncontrolledpower;howthenmusttheybeviolatedwhenhisveryelevationisaninsuperablebartotheattainmentofeitherwisdomorvirtue;whenallthefeelingsofamanarestifledbyflattery,andreflectionshutoutbypleasure！Surelyitismadnesstomakethefateofthousandsdependonthecapriceofaweakfellowcreature,whoseverystationsinkshimNECESSARILYbelowthemeanestofhissubjects！Butonepowershouldnotbethrowndowntoexaltanother——forallpowerintoxicatesweakman;anditsabuseproves,thatthemoreequalitythereisestablishedamongmen,themorevirtueandhappinesswillreigninsociety。Butthis,andanysimilarmaximdeducedfromsimplereason,raisesanoutcry——thechurchorthestateisindanger,iffaithinthewisdomofantiquityisnotimplicit;andtheywho,rousedbythesightofhumancalamity,daretoattackhumanauthority,arereviledasdespisersofGod,andenemiesofman。Thesearebittercalumnies,yettheyreachedoneofthebestofmen,（Dr。Price。）whoseashesstillpreachpeace,andwhosememorydemandsarespectfulpause,whensubjectsarediscussedthatlaysonearhisheart。

Afterattackingthesacredmajestyofkings,Ishallscarcelyexcitesurprise,byaddingmyfirmpersuasion,thateveryprofession,inwhichgreatsubordinationofrankconstitutesitspower,ishighlyinjurioustomorality。

Astandingarmy,forinstance,isincompatiblewithfreedom;

becausesubordinationandrigouraretheverysinewsofmilitarydiscipline;anddespotismisnecessarytogivevigourtoenterprisesthatonewilldirects。Aspiritinspiredbyromanticnotionsofhonour,akindofmoralityfoundedonthefashionoftheage,canonlybefeltbyafewofficers,whilstthemainbodymustbemovedbycommand,likethewavesofthesea;forthestrongwindofauthoritypushesthecrowdofsubalternsforward,theyscarcelyknoworcarewhy,withheadlongfury。

Besides,nothingcanbesoprejudicialtothemoralsoftheinhabitantsofcountrytowns,astheoccasionalresidenceofasetofidlesuperficialyoungmen,whoseonlyoccupationisgallantry,andwhosepolishedmannersrendervicemoredangerous,byconcealingitsdeformityundergayornamentaldrapery。Anairoffashion,whichisbutabadgeofslavery,andprovesthatthesoulhasnotastrongindividualcharacter,awessimplecountrypeopleintoanimitationofthevices,whentheycannotcatchtheslipperygracesofpoliteness。Everycorpsisachainofdespots,who,submittingandtyrannizingwithoutexercisingtheirreason,becomedeadweightsofviceandfollyonthecommunity。Amanofrankorfortune,sureofrisingbyinterest,hasnothingtodobuttopursuesomeextravagantfreak;whilsttheneedyGENTLEMAN,whoistorise,asthephraseturns,byhismerit,becomesaservileparasiteorvilepander。

Sailors,thenavalgentlemen,comeunderthesamedescription,onlytheirvicesassumeadifferentandagrossercast。Theyaremorepositivelyindolent,whennotdischargingtheceremonialsoftheirstation;whilsttheinsignificantflutteringofsoldiersmaybetermedactiveidleness。Moreconfinedtothesocietyofmen,theformeracquireafondnessforhumourandmischievoustricks;whilstthelatter,mixingfrequentlywithwell—bredwomen,catchasentimentalcant。Butmindisequallyoutofthequestion,whethertheyindulgethehorse—laughorpolitesimper。

MayIbeallowedtoextendthecomparisontoaprofessionwheremoremindiscertainlytobefound;fortheclergyhavesuperioropportunitiesofimprovement,thoughsubordinationalmostequallycrampstheirfaculties？Theblindsubmissionimposedatcollegetoformsofbelief,servesasanoviciatetothecuratewhomostobsequiouslyrespectstheopinionofhisrectororpatron,ifhemeanstoriseinhisprofession。Perhapstherecannotbeamoreforciblecontrastthanbetweentheservile,dependentgaitofapoorcurate,andthecourtlymienofabishop。Andtherespectandcontempttheyinspirerenderthedischargeoftheirseparatefunctionsequallyuseless。

Itisofgreatimportancetoobserve,thatthecharacterofeverymanis,insomedegree,formedbyhisprofession。Amanofsensemayonlyhaveacastofcountenancethatwearsoffasyoutracehisindividuality,whilsttheweak,commonman,hasscarcelyeveranycharacter,butwhatbelongstothebody;atleast,allhisopinionshavebeensosteepedinthevatconsecratedbyauthority,thatthefaintspiritwhichthegrapeofhisownvineyieldscannotbedistinguished。

Society,therefore,asitbecomesmoreenlightened,shouldbeverycarefulnottoestablishbodiesofmenwhomustnecessarilybemadefoolishorviciousbytheveryconstitutionoftheirprofession。

Intheinfancyofsociety,whenmenwerejustemergingoutofbarbarism,chiefsandpriests,touchingthemostpowerfulspringsofsavageconduct——hopeandfear——musthavehadunboundedsway。Anaristocracy,ofcourse,isnaturallythefirstformofgovernment。

Butclashinginterestssoonlosingtheirequipoise,amonarchyandhierarchybreakoutoftheconfusionofambitiousstruggles,andthefoundationofbothissecuredbyfeudaltenures。Thisappearstobetheoriginofmonarchialandpriestlypower,andthedawnofcivilization。Butsuchcombustiblematerialscannotlongbepentup;andgettingventinforeignwarsandintestineinsurrections,thepeopleacquiresomepowerinthetumult,whichobligestheirrulerstoglossovertheiroppressionwithashowofright。Thus,aswars,agriculture,commerce,andliterature,expandsthemind,despotsarecompelled,tomakecovertcorruptionholdfastthepowerwhichwasformerlysnatchedbyopenforce。*Andthisbanefullurkinggangreneismostquicklyspreadbyluxuryandsuperstition,thesuredregsofambition。Theindolentpuppetofacourtfirstbecomesaluxuriousmonster,orfastidioussensualist,andthenmakesthecontagionwhichhisunnaturalstatespreads,theinstrumentoftyranny。

（*Footnote。Menofabilitiesscatterseedsthatgrowup,andhaveagreatinfluenceontheformingopinion;andwhenoncethepublicopinionpreponderates,throughtheexertionofreason,theoverthrowofarbitrarypowerisnotverydistant。）

Itisthepestiferouspurplewhichrenderstheprogressofcivilizationacurse,andwarpstheunderstanding,tillmenofsensibilitydoubtwhethertheexpansionofintellectproducesagreaterportionofhappinessormisery。Butthenatureofthepoisonpointsouttheantidote;andhadRousseaumountedonestephigherinhisinvestigation;orcouldhiseyehavepiercedthroughthefoggyatmosphere,whichhealmostdisdainedtobreathe,hisactivemindwouldhavedartedforwardtocontemplatetheperfectionofmanintheestablishmentoftruecivilization,insteadoftakinghisferociousflightbacktothenightofsensualignorance。

CHAPTER2。

THEPREVAILINGOPINIONOFASEXUALCHARACTERDISCUSSED。

Toaccountfor,andexcusethetyrannyofman,manyingeniousargumentshavebeenbroughtforwardtoprove,thatthetwosexes,intheacquirementofvirtue,oughttoaimatattainingaverydifferentcharacter:or,tospeakexplicitly,womenarenotallowedtohavesufficientstrengthofmindtoacquirewhatreallydeservesthenameofvirtue。Yetitshouldseem,allowingthemtohavesouls,thatthereisbutonewayappointedbyprovidencetoleadMANKINDtoeithervirtueorhappiness。

Ifthenwomenarenotaswarmofephemerontriflers,whyshouldtheybekeptinignoranceunderthespeciousnameofinnocence？

Mencomplain,andwithreason,ofthefolliesandcapricesofoursex,whentheydonotkeenlysatirizeourheadstrongpassionsandgrovelingvices。Behold,Ishouldanswer,thenaturaleffectofignorance！Themindwilleverbeunstablethathasonlyprejudicestoreston,andthecurrentwillrunwithdestructivefurywhentherearenobarrierstobreakitsforce。Womenaretoldfromtheirinfancy,andtaughtbytheexampleoftheirmothers,thatalittleknowledgeofhumanweakness,justlytermedcunning,softnessoftemper,OUTWARDobedience,andascrupulousattentiontoapuerilekindofpropriety,willobtainforthemtheprotectionofman;andshouldtheybebeautiful,everythingelseisneedless,foratleasttwentyyearsoftheirlives。

ThusMiltondescribesourfirstfrailmother;thoughwhenhetellsusthatwomenareformedforsoftnessandsweetattractivegrace,I

cannotcomprehendhismeaning,unless,inthetrueMahometanstrain,hemeanttodepriveusofsouls,andinsinuatethatwewerebeingsonlydesignedbysweetattractivegrace,anddocileblindobedience,togratifythesensesofmanwhenhecannolongersoaronthewingofcontemplation。

Howgrosslydotheyinsultus,whothusadviseusonlytorenderourselvesgentle,domesticbrutes！Forinstance,thewinningsoftness,sowarmly,andfrequentlyrecommended,thatgovernsbyobeying。Whatchildishexpressions,andhowinsignificantisthebeing——canitbeanimmortalone？whowillcondescendtogovernbysuchsinistermethods！"Certainly,"saysLordBacon,"manisofkintothebeastsbyhisbody:andifhebenotofkintoGodbyhisspirit,heisabaseandignoblecreature！"Men,indeed,appeartometoactinaveryunphilosophicalmanner,whentheytrytosecurethegoodconductofwomenbyattemptingtokeepthemalwaysinastateofchildhood。Rousseauwasmoreconsistentwhenhewishedtostoptheprogressofreasoninbothsexes;forifmeneatofthetreeofknowledge,womenwillcomeinforataste:but,fromtheimperfectcultivationwhichtheirunderstandingsnowreceive,theyonlyattainaknowledgeofevil。

Children,Igrant,shouldbeinnocent;butwhentheepithetisappliedtomen,orwomen,itisbutaciviltermforweakness。ForifitbeallowedthatwomenweredestinedbyProvidencetoacquirehumanvirtues,andbytheexerciseoftheirunderstandings,thatstabilityofcharacterwhichisthefirmestgroundtorestourfuturehopesupon,theymustbepermittedtoturntothefountainoflight,andnotforcedtoshapetheircoursebythetwinklingofameresatellite。Milton,Igrant,wasofaverydifferentopinion;forheonlybendstotheindefeasiblerightofbeauty,thoughitwouldbedifficulttorendertwopassages,whichInowmeantocontrast,consistent:butintosimilarinconsistenciesaregreatmenoftenledbytheirsenses:——

"TowhomthusEvewithperfectbeautyadorned:

Myauthoranddisposer,whatthoubidstUnarguedIobey;soGodordains;

Godisthylaw,thoumine;toknownomoreIswoman"shappiestknowledgeandherpraise。"

TheseareexactlytheargumentsthatIhaveusedtochildren;butI

haveadded,"Yourreasonisnowgainingstrength,and,tillitarrivesatsomedegreeofmaturity,youmustlookuptomeforadvice:thenyououghttoTHINK,andonlyrelyonGod。"

Yet,inthefollowinglines,Miltonseemstocoincidewithme,whenhemakesAdamthusexpostulatewithhisMaker:——

"Hastthounotmademeherethysubstitute,Andtheseinferiorfarbeneathmeset？

AmongunequalswhatsocietyCansort,whatharmonyordelight？

Whichmustbemutual,inproportiondueGivenandreceived;butindisparityTheoneintense,theotherstillremissCannotwellsuitwitheither,butsoonproveTediousalike:offellowshipIspeakSuchasIseekfittoparticipateAllrationaldelight。"

Intreating,therefore,ofthemannersofwomen,letus,disregardingsensualarguments,tracewhatweshouldendeavourtomaketheminordertoco—operate,iftheexpressionbenottoobold,withtheSupremeBeing。

Byindividualeducation,Imean——forthesenseofthewordisnotpreciselydefined——suchanattentiontoachildaswillslowlysharpenthesenses,formthetemper,regulatethepassions,astheybegintoferment,andsettheunderstandingtoworkbeforethebodyarrivesatmaturity;sothatthemanmayonlyhavetoproceed,nottobegin,theimportanttaskoflearningtothinkandreason。

Topreventanymisconstruction,Imustadd,thatIdonotbelievethataprivateeducationcanworkthewonderswhichsomesanguinewritershaveattributedtoit。Menandwomenmustbeeducated,inagreatdegree,bytheopinionsandmannersofthesocietytheylivein。Ineveryagetherehasbeenastreamofpopularopinionthathascarriedallbeforeit,andgivenafamilycharacter,asitwere,tothecentury。Itmaythenfairlybeinferred,that,tillsocietybedifferentlyconstituted,muchcannotbeexpectedfromeducation。Itis,however,sufficientformypresentpurposetoassert,that,whatevereffectcircumstanceshaveontheabilities,everybeingmaybecomevirtuousbytheexerciseofitsownreason;

forifbutonebeingwascreatedwithviciousinclinations——thatis,positivelybad——whatcansaveusfromatheism？orifweworshipaGod,isnotthatGodadevil？

Consequently,themostperfecteducation,inmyopinion,issuchanexerciseoftheunderstandingasisbestcalculatedtostrengthenthebodyandformtheheart;or,inotherwords,toenabletheindividualtoattainsuchhabitsofvirtueaswillrenderitindependent。Infact,itisafarcetocallanybeingvirtuouswhosevirtuesdonotresultfromtheexerciseofitsownreason。

ThiswasRousseau"sopinionrespectingmen:Iextendittowomen,andconfidentlyassertthattheyhavebeendrawnoutoftheirspherebyfalserefinement,andnotbyanendeavourtoacquiremasculinequalities。Stilltheregalhomagewhichtheyreceiveissointoxicating,that,tillthemannersofthetimesarechanged,andformedonmorereasonableprinciples,itmaybeimpossibletoconvincethemthattheillegitimatepower,whichtheyobtainbydegradingthemselves,isacurse,andthattheymustreturntonatureandequality,iftheywishtosecuretheplacidsatisfactionthatunsophisticatedaffectionsimpart。Butforthisepochwemustwait——wait,perhaps,tillkingsandnobles,enlightenedbyreason,and,preferringtherealdignityofmantochildishstate,throwofftheirgaudyhereditarytrappings;andifthenwomendonotresignthearbitrarypowerofbeauty,theywillprovethattheyhaveLESSmindthanman。Imaybeaccusedofarrogance;stillI

mustdeclare,whatIfirmlybelieve,thatallthewriterswhohavewrittenonthesubjectoffemaleeducationandmanners,fromRousseautoDr。Gregory,havecontributedtorenderwomenmoreartificial,weakercharacters,thantheywouldotherwisehavebeen;

and,consequently,moreuselessmembersofsociety。Imighthaveexpressedthisconvictioninalowerkey;butIamafraiditwouldhavebeenthewhineofaffectation,andnotthefaithfulexpressionofmyfeelings,oftheclearresult,whichexperienceandreflectionhaveledmetodraw。WhenIcometothatdivisionofthesubject,IshalladverttothepassagesthatImoreparticularlydisapproveof,intheworksoftheauthorsIhavejustalludedto;butitisfirstnecessarytoobserve,thatmyobjectionextendstothewholepurportofthosebooks,whichtend,inmyopinion,todegradeonehalfofthehumanspecies,andrenderwomenpleasingattheexpenseofeverysolidvirtue。

ThoughtoreasononRousseau"sground,ifmandidattainadegreeofperfectionofmindwhenhisbodyarrivedatmaturity,itmightbeproperinordertomakeamanandhiswifeONE,thatsheshouldrelyentirelyonhisunderstanding;andthegracefulivy,claspingtheoakthatsupportedit,wouldformawholeinwhichstrengthandbeautywouldbeequallyconspicuous。But,alas！husbands,aswellastheirhelpmates,areoftenonlyovergrownchildren;nay,thankstoearlydebauchery,scarcelymenintheiroutwardform,andiftheblindleadtheblind,oneneednotcomefromheaventotellustheconsequence。

Manyarethecausesthat,inthepresentcorruptstateofsociety,contributetoenslavewomenbycrampingtheirunderstandingsandsharpeningtheirsenses。One,perhaps,thatsilentlydoesmoremischiefthanalltherest,istheirdisregardoforder。

Todoeverythinginanorderlymanner,isamostimportantprecept,whichwomen,who,generallyspeaking,receiveonlyadisorderlykindofeducation,seldomattendtowiththatdegreeofexactnessthatmen,whofromtheirinfancyarebrokenintomethod,observe。Thisnegligentkindofguesswork,forwhatotherepithetcanbeusedtopointouttherandomexertionsofasortofinstinctivecommonsense,neverbroughttothetestofreason？

preventstheirgeneralizingmattersoffact,sotheydoto—day,whattheydidyesterday,merelybecausetheydidityesterday。

Thiscontemptoftheunderstandinginearlylifehasmorebanefulconsequencesthaniscommonlysupposed;forthelittleknowledgewhichwomenofstrongmindsattain,is,fromvariouscircumstances,ofamoredesultorykindthantheknowledgeofmen,anditisacquiredmorebysheerobservationsonreallife,thanfromcomparingwhathasbeenindividuallyobservedwiththeresultsofexperiencegeneralizedbyspeculation。Ledbytheirdependentsituationanddomesticemploymentsmoreintosociety,whattheylearnisratherbysnatches;andaslearningiswiththem,ingeneral,onlyasecondarything,theydonotpursueanyonebranchwiththatperseveringardournecessarytogivevigourtothefaculties,andclearnesstothejudgment。Inthepresentstateofsociety,alittlelearningisrequiredtosupportthecharacterofagentleman;andboysareobligedtosubmittoafewyearsofdiscipline。Butintheeducationofwomenthecultivationoftheunderstandingisalwayssubordinatetotheacquirementofsomecorporealaccomplishment;evenwhileenervatedbyconfinementandfalsenotionsofmodesty,thebodyispreventedfromattainingthatgraceandbeautywhichrelaxedhalf—formedlimbsneverexhibit。

Besides,inyouththeirfacultiesarenotbroughtforwardbyemulation;andhavingnoseriousscientificstudy,iftheyhavenaturalsagacityitisturnedtoosoononlifeandmanners。Theydwelloneffects,andmodifications,withouttracingthembacktocauses;andcomplicatedrulestoadjustbehaviourareaweaksubstituteforsimpleprinciples。