THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DEPENDENCE OF WOMEN. PLATO. Ἴσως δή, εἶπον, παρὰ τὸ ἔθος γελοῖα ἂν φαίνοιτο πολλὰ περὶ τὰ νῦν λεγόμενα, εἰ πράξεται ᾗ λέγεται. 'The intellectual and moral differences between the sexes, seem to me to be entirely the result of education; using that word in its most extensive sense, to comprehend not merely the instruction received from teachers, but the habits of mind imposed by situation, or by the physical organisation of the animal frame.' DUGALD STEWART. 'Asserting the rights which women in common with men ought to contend for, we have not attempted to extenuate their faults; but to prove them to be the natural consequence of their education and station in society.' MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT. 'Parmi les progrès de l'esprit humain les plus importans pour le bonheur général, nous devons compter l'entière destruction des préjugés, qui ont établi entre les deux sexes une inégalité de droits funeste à celui même qu'elle favorise. On chercheroit en vain des motifs de la justifier, par les différences de leur organisation physique, par celle qu'on voudroit trouver dans la force de leur intelligence, dans leur sensibilité morale. Cette inégalité n'a eu d'autre origine que l'abus de la force, et c'est vainement qu'on a essayé depuis, de l'excuser par des sophismes.' PREFACE. IN WRITING on a subject which the late Mrs. J. S. Mill has treated with a breadth of view, felicity of illustration, and closeness of reasoning, worthy of her great reputation, we have been obliged to touch much of the ground cultivated by her genius. Whenever we have done so, we have ventured to adopt her language; and though we are happy to feel that her influence has had much to do in strengthening our convictions, we are not aware that we have made any direct use of her labour without acknowledgment. As, however, we quote from Mrs. Mill at some length on two or three occasions; as these quotations do not give any adequate idea of the essay from which they are taken; and as every one, in common with Mr. Mill, must feel a pride in the reputation of this most distinguished woman, we take the liberty to subjoin, with some omissions, the paragraph with which Mr. |