And,madebythisamiableweaknessentirelydependent,exceptingwhattheygainbyillicitsway,onman,notonlyforprotection,butadvice,isitsurprisingthat,neglectingthedutiesthatreasonalonepointsout,andshrinkingfromtrialscalculatedtostrengthentheirminds,theyonlyexertthemselvestogivetheirdefectsagracefulcovering,whichmayservetoheightentheircharmsintheeyeofthevoluptuary,thoughitsinkthembelowthescaleofmoralexcellence？
Fragileineverysenseoftheword,theyareobligedtolookuptomanforeverycomfort。Inthemosttriflingdangerstheyclingtotheirsupport,withparasiticaltenacity,piteouslydemandingsuccour;andtheirNATURALprotectorextendshisarm,orliftsuphisvoice,toguardthelovelytrembler——fromwhat？Perhapsthefrownofanoldcow,orthejumpofamouse;arat,wouldbeaseriousdanger。Inthenameofreason,andevencommonsense,whatcansavesuchbeingsfromcontempt;eventhoughtheybesoftandfair？
Thesefears,whennotaffected,maybeverypretty;buttheyshewadegreeofimbecility,thatdegradesarationalcreatureinawaywomenarenotawareof——forloveandesteemareverydistinctthings。
Iamfullypersuaded,thatweshouldhearofnoneoftheseinfantineairs,ifgirlswereallowedtotakesufficientexerciseandnotconfinedincloseroomstilltheirmusclesarerelaxedandtheirpowersofdigestiondestroyed。Tocarrytheremarkstillfurther,iffearingirls,insteadofbeingcherished,perhaps,created,weretreatedinthesamemannerascowardiceinboys,weshouldquicklyseewomenwithmoredignifiedaspects。Itistrue,theycouldnotthenwithequalproprietybetermedthesweetflowersthatsmileinthewalkofman;buttheywouldbemorerespectablemembersofsociety,anddischargetheimportantdutiesoflifebythelightoftheirownreason。\"Educatewomenlikemen,\"saysRousseau,\"andthemoretheyresembleoursexthelesspowerwilltheyhaveoverus。\"ThisistheverypointIaimat。I
donotwishthemtohavepowerovermen;butoverthemselves。