"Your women of honor, as you call em, are only chary of their reputations, not their persons; and 'Tis scandal that they would avoid, not men"
- William Wycherley
About this Quote
This quote by William Wycherley is referring to the concept that women of honor are more worried about their track record than with their physical safety. He is suggesting that females are more likely to avoid circumstances that might lead to scandal than they are to prevent males. This implies that women are more worried about their public image than with their own security. Wycherley is recommending that females are more likely to be cautious of their credibility than of their physical safety. This might be analyzed as a criticism of the societal expectations put on ladies to maintain a certain level of propriety. It could also be seen as a commentary on the disrespect and security that women receive in society. Wycherley's quote is a reminder that ladies should be allowed to make their own choices and must not be judged for their options.