they conſtantly remain either under ſubjection to the men, or to the opinions of mankind; and are never permitted to ſet themſelves above thoſe opinions. The firſt and moſt important qualification in a woman is good-nature or ſweetneſs of temper: formed to obey a being ſo imperfect as man, often full of vices, and always full of faults, ſhe ought to learn betimes even to ſuffer injuſtice, and to bear the inſults of a huſband without complaint; it is not for his ſake, but her own, that ſhe ſhould be of a mild diſpoſition. The perverſeneſs and ill-nature of the women only ſerve to aggravate their own misfortunes, and the miſconduct of their huſbands; they might plainly perceive that ſuch are not the arms by which they gain the ſuperiority.'
Formed to live with ſuch an imperfect being as man, they ought to learn from the exerciſe of their faculties the neceſſity of forbearance; but all the ſacred rights of humanity are violated by inſiſting on blind obedience; or, the moſt ſacred rights belong only to man.
The being who patiently endures injuſtice, and ſilently bears inſults, will ſoon become unjuſt, or unable to diſcern right from wrong. Beſides, I deny the fact, this is not the true way to form or meliorate the temper; for, as a ſex, men have better tempers than women, becauſe they are occupied by purſuits that intereſt the head as well as the heart; and the ſteadineſs of the head gives a healthy temperature to the heart. People of ſenſibility have ſeldom good tempers. The formation of the temper is the cool work of reaſon,
