Mary Astell Quotes

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Mary Astell

Profession : Writer

Birth : November 12, 1666

If God had not intended that Women shou'd use their Reason, He wou'd not have given them any, 'for He does nothing in vain.'

Mary Astell

That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.

Mary Astell

'Tis very great pity that they who are so apt to over-rate themselves in smaller matters, shou'd, where it most concerns them to know, and stand upon their Value, be so insensible of their own worth.

Mary Astell

Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion.

Mary Astell

Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best.

Mary Astell

Every one knows, that the mind will not be kept from contemplating what it loves in the midst of crowds and business. Hence come those frequent absences, so observable in conversation; for whilst the body is confined to present company, the mind is flown to that which it delights in.

Mary Astell

God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him.

Mary Astell

Hitherto I have courted Truth with a kind of Romantick Passion, in spite of all Difficulties and Discouragements: for knowledge is thought so unnecessary an Accomplishment for a Woman, that few will give themselves the Trouble to assist us in the Attainment of it.

Mary Astell

If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey.

Mary Astell

It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism.

Mary Astell

None of us whether Men or Women but have so good an Opinion of our own Conduct as to believe we are fit, if not to direct others, at least to govern our selves.

Mary Astell

Nor can the Apostle mean that Eve only sinned; or that she only was Deceived, for if Adam sinned willfully and knowingly, he became the greater Transgressor.

Mary Astell

That which has not a real excellency and value in it self, entertains no longer than the giddy Humour which recommended it to us holds.

Mary Astell

The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator.

Mary Astell

The Steps to Folly as well as Sin are gradual, and almost imperceptible, and when we are once on the Decline, we go down without taking notice on't.

Mary Astell

To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he won't practise himself.

Mary Astell

To plead for the Oppress'd and to defend the Weak seem'd to me a generous undertaking; for tho' it may be secure, 'tis not always Honourable to run over to the strongest party.

Mary Astell

Upon the principles of reason, the good of many is preferable to the good of a few or of one; a lasting good is to be preferred before a temporary, the public before the private.

Mary Astell

We all agree that its fit to be as Happy as we can, and we need no Instructor to teach us this Knowledge, 'tis born with us, and is inseparable from our Being, but we very much need to be Inform'd what is the true Way to Happiness.

Mary Astell

We may not commit a lesser Sin under pretence to avoid a greater, but we may, nay we ought to endure the greatest Pain and Grief rather than commit the least Sin.

Mary Astell