“There is no history about which there is so much ignorance as this great movement for the establishment of equal political rights for women”

The women of this nation in 1876, have greater cause for discontent, rebellion and revolution than the men of 1776.

There is not a woman born who desires to eat the bread of dependence, no matter whether it be from the hand of father, husband, or brother; for anyone who does so eat her bread places herself in the power of the person from whom she takes it.

It is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government: the ballot.

It is only through a wholesome discontent with things as they are, that we ever try to make them any better.

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved.

You would better educate ten women into the practice of liberal principles than to organize a thousand on a platform of intolerance and bigotry.

Woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.

The fact is, women are in chains, and their servitude is all the more debasing because they do not realize it.

A republican government should be based on free and equal education among the people.

Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation.

To no form of religion is woman indebted for one impulse of freedom.

The only chance women have for justice in this country is to violate the law, as I have done, and as I shall continue to do.

Many abolitionists have yet to learn the ABC of woman’s rights.

I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.

Trust me that as I ignore all law to help the slave, so will I ignore it all to protect an enslaved woman.

Be the future what it may, our happiness in the present is far more complete if we live an upright life.

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.

One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good – he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad – he and the world is destroyed.

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.

Every man should view himself as equally balanced: half good and half evil. Likewise, he should see the entire world as half good and half evil. With a single good deed he will tip the scales for himself, and for the entire world, to the side of good.

Hurry to your goal together. That is full bliss when man and woman lie equally conquered.

I am not ashamed to say that no man I ever met was my father’s equal, and I never loved any other man as much.

Someone else’s success does not equal a failure for you.

For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.