Mary Astell Biography

Mary Astell, Writer
Occup.Writer
FromEngland
BornDecember 12, 1666
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
DiedMay 11, 1731
Chelsea, England
Aged64 years
Mary Astell, an introducing English feminist author and also theorist, was born in Newcastle upon Tyne around 1666 and passed away around 1731. Astell is best born in mind for her intellectual works advocating for women's education and sex equality, which earned her the title "the first English feminist". Throughout her life, she developed a credibility as one of the most significant women writers of her time by testing societal standards and also pushing for women's development.

Astell's intellectual quests began early in life, in spite of the constraints put on females's education and learning during her period. Her papa, a coal vendor, as well as her mommy, a sincere Anglican, played considerable functions in laying the foundation for her future undertakings. Her father, identifying her intellectual possibility, encouraged her education, while her mommy introduced her to commitment and piety, values that would stay crucial to her throughout her life.

In her late teens, Astell's household dealt with economic challenges, leading her to relocate to London around 1688. There, she was presented to the intellectual circles of London, conference noteworthy figures such as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Mary Evelyn, and also Archbishop William Sancroft. Throughout her time in London, Astell released her first and most famous job, "A Significant Proposal to the Ladies for the Improvement of their Real and also Best Passion", in 1694.

"A Major Proposition" was a cutting edge text promoting for boosted education for ladies, equipping them with intellectual and spiritual understanding to enhance their social as well as spiritual lives. Astell's focus on ladies's education and learning as a course to a much better life was groundbreaking in an era when women were largely restricted to domestic functions. While some of Astell's proposals were taken into consideration extreme, her work spurred a growing passion in females's education in England.

In addition to promoting ladies's education and learning, Astell was also a supporter for women's rights in marriage. In her job, "Reflections upon Marital relationship", released in 1700, she criticized the unequal power dynamics within marriage and examined the principles of such an organization. Astell's work urged women to prioritize their own self-improvement over the search of marriage, as she acknowledged the value of intellectual freedom for women's growth.

In spite of her dedication to women's progress, Astell's feminist ideas were firmly rooted in the context of her time. She preserved a deep feeling of religious dedication as well as based her arguments on Christian worths, stressing an individual's connection with God instead of tough societal norms. She likewise advocated for ladies's education within the boundaries of their expected sex duties, as she did not believe ladies must seek positions of power or test the patriarchal framework of culture.

As a testimony to her lifelong commitment to the empowerment as well as education and learning of women, Astell established a charity college for girls in 1709, sustained by Woman Catherine Jones and also Girl Elizabeth Hastings. This institution supplied education and learning for underprivileged ladies as well as left a long-term effect on the lives of many.

Mary Astell's dedication to females's education and learning as well as civil liberties continued to motivate feminists long after her fatality. As one of the earliest supporters for females's intellectual advancement, her ideas have actually had a long lasting impact on feminist idea as well as have motivated generations of women to seek their education and personal development.

Our collection contains 39 quotes who is written / told by Mary, under the main topic Marriage.

Related authors: Mary Wortley Montagu (Writer), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Mary Wortley (Royalty)

Mary Astell Famous Works:
Source / external links:

39 Famous quotes by Mary Astell

Small: Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards
"Women are from their very infancy debarred those Advantages with the want of which they are afterwards reproached"
Small: How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?
"How can a Man respect his Wife when he has a contemptible Opinion of her and her Sex?"
Small: Although it has been said by men of more wit than wisdom, and perhaps more malice than either, that wom
"Although it has been said by men of more wit than wisdom, and perhaps more malice than either, that women are naturally incapable of acting prudently, or that they are necessarily determined to folly, I must by no means grant it"
Small: Hitherto I have courted Truth with a kind of Romantick Passion, in spite of all Difficulties and Discou
"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"
Small: For certainly there cannot be a higher pleasure than to think that we love and are beloved by the most
"For certainly there cannot be a higher pleasure than to think that we love and are beloved by the most amiable and best Being"
Small: Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable
"Women need not take up with mean things, since (if they are not wanting to themselves) they are capable of the best"
Small: Women are not so well united as to form an Insurrection. They are for the most part wise enough to love
"Women are not so well united as to form an Insurrection. They are for the most part wise enough to love their Chains, and to discern how becomingly they fit"
Small: None of us whether Men or Women but have so good an Opinion of our own Conduct as to believe we are fit
"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"
Small: None of Gods Creatures absolutely considerd are in their own Nature Contemptible the meanest Fly, the p
"None of God's Creatures absolutely consider'd are in their own Nature Contemptible; the meanest Fly, the poorest Insect has its Use and Vertue"
Small: It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism
"It is not the Head but the Heart that is the Seat of Atheism"
Small: To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects th
"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"
Small: The Relation we bear to the Wisdom of the Father, the Son of His Love, gives us indeed a dignity which
"The Relation we bear to the Wisdom of the Father, the Son of His Love, gives us indeed a dignity which otherwise we have no pretence to. It makes us something, something considerable even in God's Eyes"
Small: That which has not a real excellency and value in it self, entertains no longer than the giddy Humour w
"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"
Small: How can you be content to be in the world like tulips in a garden, to make a fine show, and be good for
"How can you be content to be in the world like tulips in a garden, to make a fine show, and be good for nothing"
Small: If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopl
"If none were to Marry, but Men of strict Vertue and Honour, I doubt the World would be but thinly peopled"
Small: Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion
"Certain I am, that Christian Religion does no where allow Rebellion"
Small: Why is Slavery so much condemnd and strove against in one Case, and so highly applauded and held so nec
"Why is Slavery so much condemn'd and strove against in one Case, and so highly applauded and held so necessary and so sacred in another?"
Small: We may not commit a lesser Sin under pretence to avoid a greater, but we may, nay we ought to endure th
"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"
Small: The Span of Life is too short to be trifled away in unconcerning and unprofitable Matters
"The Span of Life is too short to be trifled away in unconcerning and unprofitable Matters"
Small: The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator
"The Soul debases her self, when she sets her affections on any thing but her creator"
Small: The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the gr
"The scum of the People are most Tyrannical when they get the Power, and treat their Betters with the greatest Insolence"
Small: Nor can the Apostle mean that Eve only sinned or that she only was Deceived, for if Adam sinned willful
"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"
Small: Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up
"Ignorance and a narrow education lay the foundation of vice, and imitation and custom rear it up"
Small: If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?
"If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?"
Small: Its very great pity that they who are so apt to over-rate themselves in smaller matters, shoud, where i
"Its 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"
Small: But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husban
"But, alas! what poor Woman is ever taught that she should have a higher Design than to get her a Husband?"
Small: Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail
"Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail"
Small: If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey
"If a Woman can neither Love nor Honour, she does ill in promising to Obey"
Small: He who will be just, must be forcd to acknowledge, that neither Sex are always in the right
"He who will be just, must be forc'd to acknowledge, that neither Sex are always in the right"
Small: God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him
"God is His own Design and End, and that there is no other Worthy of Him"
Small: Every one knows, that the mind will not be kept from contemplating what it loves in the midst of crowds
"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"
Small: Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best
"Every Body has so good an Opinion of their own Understanding as to think their own way the best"
Small: That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments
"That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments"
Small: Marry for Love, an Heroick Action, which makes a mighty noise in the World, partly because of its rarit
"Marry for Love, an Heroick Action, which makes a mighty noise in the World, partly because of its rarity, and partly in regard of its extravagancy"
Small: If God had not intended that Women shoud use their Reason, He woud not have given them any, for He does
"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.'"
Small: Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds
"Your glass will not do you half so much service as a serious reflection on your own minds"
Small: Upon the principles of reason, the good of many is preferable to the good of a few or of one a lasting
"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"
Small: The Steps to Folly as well as Sin are gradual, and almost imperceptible, and when we are once on the De
"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"
Small: The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passio
"The design of Rhetoric is to remove those Prejudices that lie in the way of Truth, to Reduce the Passions to the Government of Reasons; to place our Subject in a Right Light, and excite our Hearers to a due consideration of it"