Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes, Sourced and Sorted by Theme
Almost every Mary Wollstonecraft quote worth using comes from one book: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792. It is the founding text of modern feminism, and its argument is consistent — that women appear inferior only because they are denied education and independence. The quotes below are drawn from it and sorted by theme, so you can find the right line for an essay on rights, education, or reason.
On independence and self-possession
Wollstonecraft’s central demand was not power over men but power over oneself:
“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
“It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
These two lines together make her core case: that character requires independence, and women cannot be expected to have one without the other.
On reason and being treated as rational
She asked to be addressed as a thinking person rather than flattered as a decorative one:
“My own sex, I hope, will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone.” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
“I love man as my fellow; but his scepter, real or usurped, extends not to me, unless the reason of an individual demands my homage; and even then the submission is to reason, and not to man.” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
On education and work
Wollstonecraft argued that women’s apparent weakness was the product of a poor education, not their nature:
“The education of women has of late been more attended to than formerly; yet they are still reckoned a frivolous sex, and ridiculed or pitied by the writers who endeavour by satire or instruction to improve them.” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
“How much more respectable is the woman who earns her own bread by fulfilling any duty, than the most accomplished beauty!” — A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
How to cite a Wollstonecraft quote
For nearly all of her famous lines, cite A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) with the chapter or page number of the edition you are using. If you are quoting from a modern reprint, cite that edition. Be cautious with quotes attributed to her that do not name the book — much of what circulates online is genuine, but the safe move is to match the wording to the text before using it in graded work.
Who Mary Wollstonecraft was
Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) was an English writer and philosopher. Beyond A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, she wrote on education and the French Revolution. She is also the mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. Her argument that women’s inequality was manufactured by upbringing and denied education, rather than natural, shaped feminist thought for the next two centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mary Wollstonecraft’s most famous quote?
“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves,” from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
What book are most Wollstonecraft quotes from?
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), her best-known work and the source of nearly all her quoted lines.
What did Wollstonecraft believe about education?
That women only seemed inferior because they were denied a real education, not because of their nature.
For related pages, see education quotes, quotes about learning, and how to cite a quote.