"A man's desire is for the woman, but the woman's desire is rarely other than for the desire of the man"

This quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge talks to the power characteristics in between men and women in relationships. It recommends that males have a natural desire for females, while ladies's desires are mostly figured out by the desires of men. This indicates that men have more control in relationships, as their desires are the ones that are ultimately satisfied. This quote likewise implies that women are expected to be passive and submissive in relationships, as their desires are secondary to those of males. This quote reflects the traditional gender functions of the time in which it was composed, and it is a tip of the importance of recognizing and respecting the autonomy of all people in relationships.