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How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

Mary Wollstonecraft

Soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste are almost synonymous with the epithets of weakness, I wish to show that elegance is inferior to virtue.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Heart Myself Taste Virtue
The greater number of people take their opinions on trust, to avoid the trouble of exercising their own minds, and these indolent beings naturally adhere to the letter, rather than the spirit of a law, divine or human.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Avoid Divine Greatness Human Law Mindset Opinion People Trust
Without the aid of the imagination all the pleasures of the senses must sink into grossness.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Imagination Philosophy
Into this error men have, probably, been led by viewing education in a false light; not considering it as the first step to form a being advancing gradually towards perfection; but only as a preparation for life.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Education Life Man Mistake Perfection Preparation View
Nature in everything demands respect, and those who violate her laws seldom violate them with impunity.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Nature Respect Violence
I have sighed when obliged to confess that either Nature has made a great difference between man and man, or that the civilization which has hitherto taken place in the world has been very partial.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Difference Greatness Man Myself Nature Place World
Simplicity and sincerity generally go hand in hand, as both proceed from a love of truth.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Hands Love Simplicity Truth
Thus do we wish as we float down the stream of life, whilst chance does.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Equality Life
Like the flowers that are planted in too rich a soil, strength and usefulness are sacrificed to beauty.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Beautiful Flower Rich Sacrifice Strength
All power inebriates weak man; and its abuse proves that the more equality there is established among men, the more virtue and happiness will reign in society.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Equality Establishment Man Power Virtue Weakness
Taught from their infancy that beauty is woman’s sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Beautiful Learning Seek
It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Expectation Independence Man Virtue Woman
Every glance afforded colouring for the picture she was delineating on her heart.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Heart Herself Photograph See
Only by the jostlings of equality can we form a just opinion of ourselves.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Equality Opinion Ourselves
No man chooses evil because it is evil; he just mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Choice Deep Evil Happiness Man Mistake Philosophy
The being who patiently endures injustice, and silently bears insults, will soon become unjust, or unable to discern right from wrong.
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Endurance Human Insult Patience Right Silence Wrong

How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

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How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

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