Page:The Garden of Eden (Doughty).djvu/71

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The Serpent.
65

In saying that man is intellect and woman affection, it is not meant that woman may not be intellectual and man affectionate; but that in the one, intellect is the predominant characteristic, and gives tone to the whole nature; while in the other, affection is the predominant characteristic, and brings all the other faculties of the mind beneath its sway. Nor is it meant that we do not sometimes see all this reversed. But the exceptions do not overturn or disprove the rule; nor has even the degeneracy of these latter days succeeded in reversing, to any large extent, the well-defined distinction between the sexes.

So also in each mind, whether of man or woman, there is the masculine and feminine element. The man has his intellectual faculties, and his affectional or sentimental nature. But in him, if he be a true man, the first are in control, and give tone, vigor and character to all else within him. The woman may also be endowed with great intelligence; but if she be a true woman, the perceptions, sentiments and affections will give tone, vigor and character to all else within her. This has been recognized in the civilization of all ages; and man stands, by the very law of his creation, as the type of intellect, and woman as that of affection. In inspired writings these types are more pronounced than in fable or tradition. And we find that a sudden change is made in the latter

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