Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/17

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DEDICATION.
xi

I have repeatedly aſſerted, and produced what appeared to me irrefragable arguments drawn from matters of fact, to prove my aſſertion, that women cannot, by force, be confined to domeſtic concerns; for they will, however ignorant, intermeddle with more weighty affairs, neglecting private duties only to diſturb, by cunning tricks, the orderly plans of reaſon which riſe above their comprehenſion.

Beſides, whilſt they are only made to acquire perſonal accompliſhments, men will ſeek for pleaſure in variety, and faithleſs huſbands will make faithleſs wives; ſuch ignorant beings, indeed, will be very excuſable when, not taught to reſpect public good, nor allowed any civil rights, they attempt to do themſelves juſtice by retaliation.

The box of miſchief thus opened in ſociety, what is to preſerve private virtue, the only ſecurity of public freedom and univerſal happineſs?

Let there be then no coercion eſtabliſhed in ſociety, and the common law of gravity prevailing, the ſexes will fall into their proper places. And, now that more equitable laws are forming your citizens, marriage may become more ſacred; your young men may chooſe wives from motives of affection, and your maidens allow love to root out vanity.

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