"In every age there has been a stream of popular opinion that has carried all before it, and given a family character, as it were, to the century"

This quote by Mary Wollstonecraft speaks with the power of popular viewpoint and how it shapes the culture of an offered era. She suggests that in every age, there is a dominating stream of idea that is so strong that it affects the entire century. This stream of popular viewpoint is so effective that it can provide a family character to the whole period, meaning that the beliefs and values of the time ended up being so pervasive that they end up being like a shared family identity. This quote talks to the power of collective idea and how it can shape the culture of an entire era. It also talks to the importance of comprehending the power of popular viewpoint and how it can form our own beliefs and worths.