"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"

This quote by Mary Astell speaks to the problem of being a woman in the pursuit of understanding. She reveals her enthusiasm for truth and her commitment to learning regardless of the discouragement she has faced. Astell acknowledges that knowledge is not viewed as an important achievement for women, and that couple of individuals are willing to assist them in their pursuit of it. This quote speaks with the gender inequality that existed in the past and still exists today. It is a tip of the significance of providing equal opportunities for females to gain access to education and understanding. Astell's words are a call to action for those who have the power to make a difference in the lives of females and to ensure that they have the same access to understanding as males. Her words are a reminder that understanding is power and that it need to not be rejected to anyone, despite gender.