Love,suchastheglowingpenofgeniushastraced,existsnotonearth,oronlyresidesinthoseexalted,fervidimaginationsthathavesketchedsuchdangerouspictures。Dangerous,becausetheynotonlyaffordaplausibleexcusetothevoluptuary,whodisguisessheersensualityunderasentimentalveil;butastheyspreadaffectation,andtakefromthedignityofvirtue。Virtue,astheverywordimports,shouldhaveanappearanceofseriousness,ifnotausterity;andtoendeavourtotrickheroutinthegarbofpleasure,becausetheepithethasbeenusedasanothernameforbeauty,istoexaltheronaquicksand;amostinsidiousattempttohastenherfallbyapparentrespect。Virtue,andpleasurearenot,infact,sonearlyalliedinthislifeassomeeloquentwritershavelabouredtoprove。Pleasurepreparesthefadingwreath,andmixestheintoxicatingcup;butthefruitwhichvirtuegives,istherecompenceoftoil:and,graduallyseenasitripens,onlyaffordscalmsatisfaction;nay,appearingtobetheresultofthenaturaltendencyofthings,itisscarcelyobserved。Bread,thecommonfoodoflife,seldomthoughtofasablessing,supportstheconstitution,andpreserveshealth;stillfeastsdelighttheheartofman,thoughdiseaseandevendeathlurkinthecupordaintythatelevatesthespiritsorticklesthepalate。Thelivelyheatedimaginationinthesamestyle,drawsthepictureoflove,asitdrawseveryotherpicture,withthoseglowingcolours,whichthedaringhandwillstealfromtherainbowthatisdirectedbyamind,condemned,inaworldlikethis,toproveitsnobleorigin,bypantingafterunattainableperfection;everpursuingwhatitacknowledgestobeafleetingdream。Animaginationofthisvigorouscastcangiveexistencetoinsubstantialforms,andstabilitytotheshadowyreverieswhichthemindnaturallyfallsintowhenrealitiesarefoundvapid。Itcanthendepictlovewithcelestialcharms,anddoteonthegrandidealobject;itcanimagineadegreeofmutualaffectionthatshallrefinethesoul,andnotexpirewhenithasservedasa\"scaletoheavenly;\"and,likedevotion,makeitabsorbeverymeaneraffectionanddesire。
Ineachother\'sarms,asinatemple,withitssummitlostintheclouds,theworldistobeshutout,andeverythoughtandwish,thatdonotnurturepureaffectionandpermanentvirtue。Permanentvirtue！alas！Rousseau,respectablevisionary！thyparadisewouldsoonbeviolatedbytheentranceofsomeunexpectedguest。LikeMilton\'s,itwouldonlycontainangels,ormensunkbelowthedignityofrationalcreatures。Happinessisnotmaterial,itcannotbeseenorfelt！Yettheeagerpursuitofthegoodwhicheveryoneshapestohisownfancy,proclaimsmanthelordofthislowerworld,andtobeanintelligentialcreature,whoisnottoreceive,butacquirehappiness。They,therefore,whocomplainofthedelusionsofpassion,donotrecollectthattheyareexclaimingagainstastrongproofoftheimmortalityofthesoul。
But,leavingsuperiormindstocorrectthemselves,andpaydearlyfortheirexperience,itisnecessarytoobserve,thatitisnotagainststrong,perseveringpassions;butromantic,waveringfeelings,thatIwishtoguardthefemaleheartbyexercisingtheunderstanding;fortheseparadisiacalreveriesareoftenertheeffectofidlenessthanofalivelyfancy。
Womenhaveseldomsufficientseriousemploymenttosilencetheirfeelings;aroundoflittlecares,orvainpursuits,fritteringawayallstrengthofmindandorgans,theybecomenaturallyonlyobjectsofsense。Inshort,thewholetenoroffemaleeducation（theeducationofsociety）tendstorenderthebestdisposed,romanticandinconstant;andtheremaindervainandmean。Inthepresentstateofsociety,thisevilcanscarcelyberemedied,Iamafraid,intheslightestdegree;shouldamorelaudableambitionevergainground,theymaybebroughtnearertonatureandreason,andbecomemorevirtuousandusefulastheygrowmorerespectable。
ButIwillventuretoassert,thattheirreasonwillneveracquiresufficientstrengthtoenableittoregulatetheirconduct,whilstthemakinganappearanceintheworldisthefirstwishofthemajorityofmankind。Tothisweakwishthenaturalaffectionsandthemostusefulvirtuesaresacrificed。GirlsmarrymerelytoBETTERTHEMSELVES,toborrowasignificantvulgarphrase,andhavesuchperfectpowerovertheirheartsasnottopermitthemselvestoFALLINLOVEtillamanwithasuperiorfortuneoffers。OnthissubjectImeantoenlargeinafuturechapter;itisonlynecessarytodropahintatpresent,becausewomenaresooftendegradedbysufferingtheselfishprudenceofagetochilltheardourofyouth。
>Fromthesamesourceflowsanopinionthatyounggirlsoughttodedicategreatpartoftheirtimetoneedlework;yet,thisemploymentcontractstheirfacultiesmorethananyotherthatcouldhavebeenchosenforthem,byconfiningtheirthoughtstotheirpersons。Menordertheirclothestobemade,andhavedonewiththesubject;womenmaketheirownclothes,necessaryorornamental,andarecontinuallytalkingaboutthem;andtheirthoughtsfollowtheirhands。Itisnotindeedthemakingofnecessariesthatweakensthemind;butthefripperyofdress。Forwhenawomaninthelowerrankoflifemakesherhusband\'sandchildren\'sclothes,shedoesherduty,thisispartofherbusiness;butwhenwomenworkonlytodressbetterthantheycouldotherwiseafford,itisworsethansheerlossoftime。Torenderthepoorvirtuous,theymustbeemployed,andwomeninthemiddlerankoflifedidtheynotapethefashionsofthenobility,withoutcatchingtheirease,mightemploythem,whilsttheythemselvesmanagedtheirfamilies,instructedtheirchildren,andexercisedtheirownminds。
Gardening,experimentalphilosophy,andliterature,wouldaffordthemsubjectstothinkof,andmatterforconversation,thatinsomedegreewouldexercisetheirunderstandings。TheconversationofFrenchwomen,whoarenotsorigidlynailedtotheirchairs,totwistlappets,andknotribbands,isfrequentlysuperficial;but,I
contend,thatitisnothalfsoinsipidasthatofthoseEnglishwomen,whosetimeisspentinmakingcaps,bonnets,andthewholemischiefoftrimmings,nottomentionshopping,bargain—hunting,etc。etc。:anditisthedecent,prudentwomen,whoaremostdegradedbythesepractices;fortheirmotiveissimplyvanity。
Thewanton,whoexerciseshertastetorenderherpersonalluring,hassomethingmoreinview。
Theseobservationsallbranchoutofageneralone,whichIhavebeforemade,andwhichcannotbetooofteninsistedupon,for,speakingofmen,women,orprofessions,itwillbefound,thattheemploymentofthethoughtsshapesthecharacterbothgenerallyandindividually。Thethoughtsofwomeneverhoveraroundtheirpersons,andisitsurprisingthattheirpersonsarereckonedmostvaluable？Yetsomedegreeoflibertyofmindisnecessaryeventoformtheperson;andthismaybeonereasonwhysomegentlewiveshavesofewattractionsbesidethatofsex。Addtothis,sedentaryemploymentsrenderthemajorityofwomensickly,andfalsenotionsoffemaleexcellencemakethemproudofthisdelicacy,thoughitbeanotherfetter,thatbycallingtheattentioncontinuallytothebody,crampstheactivityofthemind。
Womenofqualityseldomdoanyofthemanualpartoftheirdress,consequentlyonlytheirtasteisexercised,andtheyacquire,bythinkinglessofthefinery,whenthebusinessoftheirtoiletisover,thatease,whichseldomappearsinthedeportmentofwomen,whodressmerelyforthesakeofdressing。Infact,theobservationwithrespecttothemiddlerank,theoneinwhichtalentsthrivebest,extendsnottowomen;forthoseofthesuperiorclass,bycatching,atleastasmatteringofliterature,andconversingmorewithmen,ongeneraltopics,acquiremoreknowledgethanthewomenwhoapetheirfashionsandfaultswithoutsharingtheiradvantages。Withrespecttovirtue,tousethewordinacomprehensivesense,Ihaveseenmostinlowlife。Manypoorwomenmaintaintheirchildrenbythesweatoftheirbrow,andkeeptogetherfamiliesthatthevicesofthefatherswouldhavescatteredabroad;butgentlewomenaretooindolenttobeactivelyvirtuous,andaresoftenedratherthanrefinedbycivilization。
IndeedthegoodsensewhichIhavemetwithamongthepoorwomenwhohavehadfewadvantagesofeducation,andyethaveactedheroically,stronglyconfirmedmeintheopinion,thattriflingemploymentshaverenderedwomenatrifler。Men,takingher（\'I
takeherbody,\'saysRanger。）body,themindislefttorust;sothatwhilephysicalloveenervatesman,asbeinghisfavouriterecreation,hewillendeavourtoenslavewoman:andwhocantellhowmanygenerationsmaybenecessarytogivevigourtothevirtueandtalentsofthefreedposterityofabjectslaves？（\'Supposingthatwomenarevoluntaryslaves——slaveryofanykindisunfavourabletohumanhappinessandimprovement。\'——\'Knox\'sEssays\'。）
Intracingthecausesthatinmyopinion,havedegradedwoman,I
haveconfinedmyobservationstosuchasuniversallyactuponthemoralsandmannersofthewholesex,andtomeitappearsclear,thattheyallspringfromwantofunderstanding。Whetherthisarisesfromaphysicaloraccidentalweaknessoffaculties,timealonecandetermine;forIshallnotlayanygreatstressupontheexampleofafewwomen（Sappho,Eloisa,Mrs。Macaulay,theEmpressofRussia,Madamed\'Eon,etc。These,andmanymore,maybereckonedexceptions;and,arenotallheroes,aswellasheroines,exceptionstogeneralrules？Iwishtoseewomenneitherheroinesnorbrutes;butreasonablecreatures。）who,fromhavingreceivedamasculineeducation,haveacquiredcourageandresolution;Ionlycontendthatthemenwhohavebeenplacedinsimilarsituationshaveacquiredasimilarcharacter,Ispeakofbodiesofmen,andthatmenofgeniusandtalentshavestartedoutofaclass,inwhichwomenhaveneveryetbeenplaced。
CHAPTER5。
ANIMADVERSIONSONSOMEOFTHEWRITERSWHOHAVERENDEREDWOMEN
OBJECTSOFPITY,BORDERINGONCONTEMPT。
Theopinionsspeciouslysupported,insomemodernpublicationsonthefemalecharacter,andeducation,whichhavegiventhetonetomostoftheobservationsmade,inamorecursorymanner,onthesex,remainnowtobeexamined。
SECTION5。1。
IshallbeginwithRousseau,andgiveasketchofthecharacterofwomeninhisownwords,interspersingcommentsandreflections。Mycomments,itistrue,willallspringfromafewsimpleprinciples,andmighthavebeendeducedfromwhatIhavealreadysaid;buttheartificialstructurehasbeenraisedwithsomuchingenuity,thatitseemsnecessarytoattackitinamorecircumstantialmanner,andmaketheapplicationmyself。
Sophia,saysRousseau,shouldbeasperfectawomanasEmiliusisaman,andtorenderherso,itisnecessarytoexaminethecharacterwhichnaturehasgiventothesex。
Hethenproceedstoprove,thatwomenoughttobeweakandpassive,becauseshehaslessbodilystrengththanman;andfromhenceinfers,thatshewasformedtopleaseandtobesubjecttohim;andthatitisherdutytorenderherselfAGREEABLEtohermaster——thisbeingthegrandendofherexistence。
Supposingwomentohavebeenformedonlytoplease,andbesubjecttoman,theconclusionisjust,sheoughttosacrificeeveryotherconsiderationtorenderherselfagreeabletohim:andletthisbrutaldesireofself—preservationbethegrandspringofallheractions,whenitisprovedtobetheironbedoffate,tofitwhich,hercharactershouldbestretchedorcontracted,regardlessofallmoralorphysicaldistinctions。Butif,asIthinkmaybedemonstrated,thepurposesofeventhislife,viewingthewhole,aresubvertedbypracticalrulesbuiltuponthisignoblebase,I
maybeallowedtodoubtwhetherwomanwascreatedforman:andthoughthecryofirreligion,orevenatheismberaisedagainstme,Iwillsimplydeclare,thatwereanangelfromheaventotellmethatMoses\'sbeautiful,poeticalcosmogony,andtheaccountofthefallofman,wereliterallytrue,IcouldnotbelievewhatmyreasontoldmewasderogatorytothecharacteroftheSupremeBeing:and,havingnofearofthedevilbeforemineeyes,I
venturetocallthisasuggestionofreason,insteadofrestingmyweaknessonthebroadshouldersofthefirstseducerofmyfrailsex。
\"Itbeingoncedemonstrated,\"continuesRousseau,\"thatmanandwomanarenot,noroughttobe,constitutedalikeintemperamentandcharacter,itfollowsofcourse,thattheyshouldnotbeeducatedinthesamemanner。Inpursuingthedirectionsofnature,theyoughtindeedtoactinconcert,buttheyshouldnotbeengagedinthesameemployments:theendoftheirpursuitsshouldbethesame,butthemeanstheyshouldtaketoaccomplishthem,and,ofconsequence,theirtastesandinclinationsshouldbedifferent。\"
（Rousseau\'s\'Emilius\',Volume3page176。）
\"Girlsarefromtheirearliestinfancyfondofdress。Notcontentwithbeingpretty,theyaredesirousofbeingthoughtso;wesee,byalltheirlittleairs,thatthisthoughtengagestheirattention;andtheyarehardlycapableofunderstandingwhatissaidtothem,beforetheyaretobegovernedbytalkingtothemofwhatpeoplewillthinkoftheirbehaviour。Thesamemotive,however,indiscreetlymadeuseofwithboys,hasnotthesameeffect:providedtheyarelettopursuetheiramusementsatpleasure,theycareverylittlewhatpeoplethinkofthem。Timeandpainsarenecessarytosubjectboystothismotive。
\"Whencesoevergirlsderivethisfirstlessonitisaverygoodone。
Asthebodyisborn,inamannerbeforethesoul,ourfirstconcernshouldbetocultivatetheformer;thisorderiscommontobothsexes,buttheobjectofthatcultivationisdifferent。Intheonesexitisthedevelopementofcorporealpowers;intheother,thatofpersonalcharms:notthateitherthequalityofstrengthorbeautyoughttobeconfinedexclusivelytoonesex;butonlythattheorderofthecultivationofbothisinthatrespectreversed。
Womencertainlyrequireasmuchstrengthastoenablethemtomoveandactgracefully,andmenasmuchaddressastoqualifythemtoactwithease。\"
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\"Childrenofbothsexeshaveagreatmanyamusementsincommon;andsotheyought;havetheynotalsomanysuchwhentheyaregrownup？
Eachsexhasalsoitspeculiartastetodistinguishinthisparticular。Boyslovesportsofnoiseandactivity;tobeatthedrum,towhipthetop,andtodragabouttheirlittlecarts:
girls,ontheotherhand,arefonderofthingsofshowandornament;suchasmirrors,trinkets,anddolls;thedollisthepeculiaramusementofthefemales;fromwhenceweseetheirtasteplainlyadaptedtotheirdestination。Thephysicalpartoftheartofpleasingliesindress;andthisisallwhichchildrenarecapacitatedtocultivateofthatart。\"
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\"Herethenweseeaprimarypropensityfirmlyestablished,whichyouneedonlytopursueandregulate。Thelittlecreaturewilldoubtlessbeverydesiroustoknowhowtodressupherdoll,tomakeitssleeveknots,itsflounces,itsheaddress,etc。,sheisobligedtohavesomuchrecoursetothepeopleabouther,fortheirassistanceinthesearticles,thatitwouldbemuchmoreagreeabletohertoowethemalltoherownindustry。Hencewehaveagoodreasonforthefirstlessonswhichareusuallytaughttheseyoungfemales:inwhichwedonotappeartobesettingthematask,butobligingthem,byinstructingtheminwhatisimmediatelyusefultothemselves。And,infact,almostallofthemlearnwithreluctancetoreadandwrite;butveryreadilyapplythemselvestotheuseoftheirneedles。Theyimaginethemselvesalreadygrownup,andthinkwithpleasurethatsuchqualificationswillenablethemtodecoratethemselves。\"
Thisiscertainlyonlyaneducationofthebody;butRousseauisnottheonlymanwhohasindirectlysaidthatmerelythepersonofayoungwoman,withoutanymind,unlessanimalspiritscomeunderthatdescription,isverypleasing。Torenderitweak,andwhatsomemaycallbeautiful,theunderstandingisneglected,andgirlsforcedtositstill,playwithdolls,andlistentofoolishconversations;theeffectofhabitisinsisteduponasanundoubtedindicationofnature。IknowitwasRousseau\'sopinionthatthefirstyearsofyouthshouldbeemployedtoformthebody,thoughineducatingEmiliushedeviatesfromthisplan;yetthedifferencebetweenstrengtheningthebody,onwhichstrengthofmindinagreatmeasuredepends,andonlygivingitaneasymotion,isverywide。
Rousseau\'sobservations,itispropertoremark,weremadeinacountrywheretheartofpleasingwasrefinedonlytoextractthegrossnessofvice。Hedidnotgobacktonature,orhisrulingappetitedisturbedtheoperationsofreason,elsehewouldnothavedrawnthesecrudeinferences。
InFrance,boysandgirls,particularlythelatter,areonlyeducatedtoplease,tomanagetheirpersons,andregulatetheirexteriorbehaviour;andtheirmindsarecorruptedataveryearlyage,bytheworldlyandpiouscautionstheyreceive,toguardthemagainstimmodesty。Ispeakofpasttimes。Theveryconfessionswhichmerechildrenareobligedtomake,andthequestionsaskedbytheholymenIassertthesefactsongoodauthority,weresufficienttoimpressasexualcharacter;andtheeducationofsocietywasaschoolofcoquetryandart。Attheageoftenoreleven;nay,oftenmuchsooner,girlsbegantocoquet,andtalked,unreproved,ofestablishingthemselvesintheworldbymarriage。
Inshort,theyweremadewomen,almostfromtheirverybirth,andcomplimentswerelistenedtoinsteadofinstruction。These,weakeningthemind,Naturewassupposedtohaveactedlikeastep—mother,whensheformedthisafter—thoughtofcreation。
Notallowingthemunderstanding,however,itwasbutconsistenttosubjectthemtoauthority,independentofreason;andtopreparethemforthissubjection,hegivesthefollowingadvice:
\"Girlsoughttobeactiveanddiligent;noristhatall;theyshouldalsobeearlysubjectedtorestraint。Thismisfortune,ifitreallybeone,isinseparablefromtheirsex;nordotheyeverthrowitoffbuttosuffermorecruelevils。Theymustbesubject,alltheirlives,tothemostconstantandsevererestraint,whichisthatofdecorum:itis,therefore,necessarytoaccustomthemearlytosuchconfinement,thatitmaynotafterwardcostthemtoodear;andtothesuppressionoftheircaprices,thattheymaythemorereadilysubmittothewillofothers。If,indeed,theyarefondofbeingalwaysatwork,theyshouldbesometimescompelledtolayitaside。Dissipation,levity,andinconstancy,arefaultsthatreadilyspringupfromtheirfirstpropensities,whencorruptedorpervertedbytoomuchindulgence。Topreventthisabuse,weshouldlearnthem,aboveallthings,tolayaduerestraintonthemselves。Thelifeofamodestwomanisreduced,byourabsurdinstitutions,toaperpetualconflictwithherself:notbutitisjustthatthissexshouldpartakeofthesufferingswhicharisefromthoseevilsithathcausedus。\"
Andwhyisthelifeofamodestwomanaperpetualconflict？I
shouldanswer,thatthisverysystemofeducationmakesitso。
Modesty,temperance,andself—denial,arethesoberoffspringofreason;butwhensensibilityisnurturedattheexpenseoftheunderstanding,suchweakbeingsmustberestrainedbyarbitrarymeans,andbesubjectedtocontinualconflicts;butgivetheiractivityofmindawiderrange,andnoblerpassionsandmotiveswillgoverntheirappetitesandsentiments。
\"Thecommonattachmentandregardofamother,nay,merehabit,willmakeherbelovedbyherchildren,ifshedoesnothingtoincurtheirhate。Eventherestraintshelaysthemunder,ifwelldirected,willincreasetheiraffection,insteadoflesseningit;
becauseastateofdependencebeingnaturaltothesex,theyperceivethemselvesformedforobedience。\"
Thisisbeggingthequestion;forservitudenotonlydebasestheindividual,butitseffectsseemtobetransmittedtoposterity。
Consideringthelengthoftimethatwomenhavebeendependent,isitsurprisingthatsomeofthemhugtheirchains,andfawnlikethespaniel？\"Thesedogs,\"observesanaturalist,\"atfirstkepttheirearserect;butcustomhassupersedednature,andatokenoffearisbecomeabeauty。\"
\"Forthesamereason,\"addsRousseau,\"womenhaveoroughttohave,butlittleliberty;theyareapttoindulgethemselvesexcessivelyinwhatisallowedthem。Addictedineverythingtoextremes,theyareevenmoretransportedattheirdiversionsthanboys。\"
Theanswertothisisverysimple。Slavesandmobshavealwaysindulgedthemselvesinthesameexcesses,whenoncetheybrokeloosefromauthority。Thebentbowrecoilswithviolence,whenthehandissuddenlyrelaxedthatforciblyheldit:andsensibility,theplaythingofoutwardcircumstances,mustbesubjectedtoauthority,ormoderatedbyreason。
\"Thereresults,\"hecontinues,\"fromthishabitualrestraint,atractablenesswhichthewomenhaveoccasionforduringtheirwholelives,astheyconstantlyremaineitherundersubjectiontothemen,ortotheopinionsofmankind;andareneverpermittedtosetthemselvesabovethoseopinions。Thefirstandmostimportantqualificationinawomanisgood—natureorsweetnessoftemper;
formedtoobeyabeingsoimperfectasman,oftenfullofvices,andalwaysfulloffaults,sheoughttolearnbetimeseventosufferinjustice,andtobeartheinsultsofahusbandwithoutcomplaint;itisnotforhissake,butherown,thatsheshouldbeofamilddisposition。Theperversenessandill—natureofthewomenonlyservetoaggravatetheirownmisfortunes,andthemisconductoftheirhusbands;theymightplainlyperceivethatsucharenotthearmsbywhichtheygainthesuperiority。\"
Formedtolivewithsuchanimperfectbeingasman,theyoughttolearnfromtheexerciseoftheirfacultiesthenecessityofforbearance;butallthesacredrightsofhumanityareviolatedbyinsistingonblindobedience;or,themostsacredrightsbelongONLYtoman。
Thebeingwhopatientlyenduresinjustice,andsilentlybearsinsults,willsoonbecomeunjust,orunabletodiscernrightfromwrong。Besides,Idenythefact,thisisnotthetruewaytoformormelioratethetemper;for,asasex,menhavebettertempersthanwomen,becausetheyareoccupiedbypursuitsthatinteresttheheadaswellastheheart;andthesteadinessoftheheadgivesahealthytemperaturetotheheart。Peopleofsensibilityhaveseldomgoodtempers。Theformationofthetemperisthecoolworkofreason,when,aslifeadvances,shemixeswithhappyart,jarringelements。Ineverknewaweakorignorantpersonwhohadagoodtemper,thoughthatconstitutionalgoodhumour,andthatdocility,whichfearstampsonthebehaviour,oftenobtainsthename。Isaybehaviour,forgenuinemeeknessneverreachedtheheartormind,unlessastheeffectofreflection;and,thatsimplerestraintproducesanumberofpeccanthumoursindomesticlife,manysensiblemenwillallow,whofindsomeofthesegentleirritablecreatures,verytroublesomecompanions。
\"Eachsex,\"hefurtherargues,\"shouldpreserveitspeculiartoneandmanner:ameekhusbandmaymakeawifeimpertinent;butmildnessofdispositiononthewoman\'ssidewillalwaysbringamanbacktoreason,atleastifhebenotabsolutelyabrute,andwillsoonerorlatertriumphoverhim。\"True,themildnessofreason;
butabjectfearalwaysinspirescontempt;andtearsareonlyeloquentwhentheyflowdownfaircheeks。
Ofwhatmaterialscanthatheartbecomposed,whichcanmeltwheninsulted,andinsteadofrevoltingatinjustice,kisstherod？Isitunfairtoinfer,thathervirtueisbuiltonnarrowviewsandselfishness,whocancaressaman,withtruefemininesoftness,theverymomentwhenhetreatshertyrannically？Natureneverdictatedsuchinsincerity;andthoughprudenceofthissortbetermedavirtue,moralitybecomesvaguewhenanypartissupposedtorestonfalsehood。Thesearemereexpedients,andexpedientsareonlyusefulforthemoment。
Letthehusbandbewareoftrustingtooimplicitlytothisservileobedience;forifhiswifecanwithwinningsweetnesscaresshimwhenangry,andwhensheoughttobeangry,unlesscontempthadstifledanaturaleffervescence,shemaydothesameafterpartingwithalover。Theseareallpreparationsforadultery;or,shouldthefearoftheworld,orofhell,restrainherdesireofpleasingothermen,whenshecannolongerpleaseherhusband,whatsubstitutecanbefoundbyabeingwhowasonlyformedbynatureandarttopleaseman？whatcanmakeheramendsforthisprivation,orwhereisshetoseekforafreshemployment？wherefindsufficientstrengthofmindtodeterminetobeginthesearch,whenherhabitsarefixed,andvanityhaslongruledherchaoticmind？
Butthispartialmoralistrecommendscunningsystematicallyandplausibly。
\"Daughtersshouldbealwayssubmissive;theirmothers,however,shouldnotbeinexorable。Tomakeayoungpersontractable,sheoughtnottobemadeunhappy;tomakehermodestsheoughtnottoberenderedstupid。Onthecontrary,Ishouldnotbedispleasedatherbeingpermittedtousesomeart,nottoeludepunishmentincaseofdisobedience,buttoexemptherselffromthenecessityofobeying。Itisnotnecessarytomakeherdependenceburdensome,butonlytoletherfeelit。Subtiltyisatalentnaturaltothesex;andasIampersuaded,allournaturalinclinationsarerightandgoodinthemselves,Iamofopinionthisshouldbecultivatedaswellastheothers:itisrequisiteforusonlytopreventitsabuse。\"
\"Whateveris,isright,\"hethenproceedstriumphantlytoinfer。
Granted;yet,perhaps,noaphorismevercontainedamoreparadoxicalassertion。ItisasolemntruthwithrespecttoGod。
He,reverentiallyIspeak,seesthewholeatonce,andsawitsjustproportionsinthewomboftime;butman,whocanonlyinspectdisjointedparts,findsmanythingswrong;anditisapartofthesystem,andthereforeright,thatheshouldendeavourtoalterwhatappearstohimtobeso,evenwhilehebowstothewisdomofhisCreator,andrespectsthedarknesshelabourstodisperse。
Theinferencethatfollowsisjust,supposingtheprincipletobesound:\"Thesuperiorityofaddress,peculiartothefemalesex,isaveryequitableindemnificationfortheirinferiorityinpointofstrength:withoutthis,womanwouldnotbethecompanionofman;
buthisslave:itisbyhersuperiourartandingenuitythatshepreservesherequality,andgovernshimwhilesheaffectstoobey。
Womanhaseverythingagainsther,aswellourfaultsasherowntimidityandweakness:shehasnothinginherfavour,buthersubtiltyandherbeauty。Isitnotveryreasonable,therefore,sheshouldcultivateboth？\"Greatnessofmindcanneverdwellwithcunningoraddress;forIshallnotboggleaboutwords,whentheirdirectsignificationisinsincerityandfalsehood;butcontentmyselfwithobserving,thatifanyclassofmankindbesocreatedthatitmustnecessarilybeeducatedbyrules,notstrictlydeduciblefromtruth,virtueisanaffairofconvention。HowcouldRousseaudaretoassert,aftergivingthisadvice,thatinthegrandendofexistence,theobjectofbothsexesshouldbethesame,whenhewellknew,thatthemindformedbyitspursuits,isexpandedbygreatviewsswallowinguplittleones,orthatitbecomesitselflittle？
Menhavesuperiourstrengthofbody;butwereitnotformistakennotionsofbeauty,womenwouldacquiresufficienttoenablethemtoearntheirownsubsistence,thetruedefinitionofindependence;
andtobearthosebodilyinconveniencesandexertionsthatarerequisitetostrengthenthemind。
Letusthen,bybeingallowedtotakethesameexerciseasboys,notonlyduringinfancy,butyouth,arriveatperfectionofbody,thatwemayknowhowfarthenaturalsuperiorityofmanextends。
Forwhatreasonorvirtuecanbeexpectedfromacreaturewhentheseed—timeoflifeisneglected？None——didnotthewindsofheavencasuallyscattermanyusefulseedsinthefallowground。
\"Beautycannotbeacquiredbydress,andcoquetryisanartnotsoearlyandspeedilyattained。Whilegirlsareyetyoung,however,theyareinacapacitytostudyagreeablegesture,apleasingmodulationofvoice,aneasycarriageandbehaviour;aswellastotaketheadvantageofgracefullyadaptingtheirlooksandattitudestotime,place,andoccasion。Theirapplication,therefore,shouldnotbesolelyconfinedtotheartsofindustryandtheneedle,whentheycometodisplayothertalents,whoseutilityisalreadyapparent。\"\"FormypartIwouldhaveayoungEnglishwomancultivateheragreeabletalents,inordertopleaseherfuturehusband,withasmuchcareandassiduityasayoungCircassiancultivatesher\'s,tofitherfortheHaramofanEasternbashaw。\"
Torenderwomencompletelyinsignificant,headds,——\"Thetonguesofwomenareveryvoluble;theyspeakearlier,morereadily,andmoreagreeablythanthemen;theyareaccusedalsoofspeakingmuchmore:butsoitoughttobe,andIshouldbeveryreadytoconvertthisreproachintoacompliment;theirlipsandeyeshavethesameactivity,andforthesamereason。Amanspeaksofwhatheknows,awomanofwhatpleasesher;theonerequiresknowledge,theothertaste;theprincipalobjectofaman\'sdiscourseshouldbewhatisuseful,thatofawoman\'swhatisagreeable。Thereoughttobenothingincommonbetweentheirdifferentconversationbuttruth。\"
\"Weoughtnot,therefore,torestraintheprattleofgirls,inthesamemannerasweshouldthatofboys,withthatseverequestion,\'Towhatpurposeareyoutalking？\'butbyanother,whichisnolessdifficulttoanswer,\'Howwillyourdiscoursebereceived？\'Ininfancy,whiletheyareasyetincapabletodiscerngoodfromevil,theyoughttoobserveitasalaw,nevertosayanythingdisagreeabletothosewhomtheyarespeakingto:whatwillrenderthepracticeofthisrulealsothemoredifficult,is,thatitmusteverbesubordinatetotheformer,ofneverspeakingfalselyortellinganuntruth。\"Togovernthetongueinthismannermustrequiregreataddressindeed;anditistoomuchpractisedbothbymenandwomen。Outoftheabundanceofthehearthowfewspeak！
Sofew,thatI,wholovesimplicity,wouldgladlygiveuppolitenessforaquarterofthevirtuethathasbeensacrificedtoanequivocalquality,which,atbest,shouldonlybethepolishofvirtue。
Buttocompletethesketch。\"Itiseasytobeconceived,thatifmalechildrenbenotinacapacitytoformanytruenotionsofreligion,thoseideasmustbegreatlyabovetheconceptionofthefemales:itisforthisveryreason,Iwouldbegintospeaktothemtheearlieronthissubject;forifweweretowaittilltheywereinacapacitytodiscussmethodicallysuchprofoundquestions,weshouldrunariskofneverspeakingtothemonthissubjectaslongastheylived。Reasoninwomenisapracticalreason,capacitatingthemartfullytodiscoverthemeansofattainingaknownend,butwhichwouldneverenablethemtodiscoverthatenditself。Thesocialrelationsofthesexesareindeedtrulyadmirable:fromtheirunionthereresultsamoralperson,ofwhichwomanmaybetermedtheeyes,andmanthehand,withthisdependenceoneachother,thatitisfromthemanthatthewomanistolearnwhatsheistosee,anditisofthewomanthatmanistolearnwhatheoughttodo。Ifwomancouldrecurtothefirstprinciplesofthingsaswellasman,andmanwascapacitatedtoenterintotheirminutaeaswellaswoman,alwaysindependentofeachother,theywouldliveinperpetualdiscord,andtheirunioncouldnotsubsist。Butinthepresentharmonywhichnaturallysubsistsbetweenthem,theirdifferentfacultiestendtoonecommonend;itisdifficulttosaywhichofthemconducesthemosttoit:
eachfollowstheimpulseoftheother;eachisobedient,andbotharemasters。\"