"Man, born of woman, has found it a hard thing to forgive her for giving him birth. The patriarchal protest against the ancient matriarch has borne strange fruit through the years"

This quote by Lillian Smith speaks to the long-standing tension between men and women in society. Smith recommends that men have a tough time forgiving females for giving them birth, which this bitterness has actually been passed down through generations. This patriarchal demonstration against the ancient matriarch has had a lasting effect on the method males and females connect with each other. This quote highlights the power characteristics in between males and females, and how they have actually been formed by history. It also speaks with the need for men to acknowledge the significance of women in society and to move away from the traditional patriarchal frame of mind. Smith's quote is a tip that males and females need to work together to develop a more fair society.