Welcome to our collection of quotes by Lucretia Mott. We hope you enjoy pondering them and please share widely.
Wikipedia Summary for Lucretia Mott
Lucretia Mott (née Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She had formed the idea of reforming the position of women in society when she was amongst the women excluded from the World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London in 1840. In 1848 she was invited by Jane Hunt to a meeting that led to the first public gathering about women's rights, the Seneca Falls Convention, during which Mott co-wrote the Declaration of Sentiments.
Her speaking abilities made her an important abolitionist, feminist, and reformer; she had been a Quaker preacher early in her adulthood. When the United States outlawed slavery in 1865, she advocated giving former slaves, both male and female, the right to vote (suffrage). She remained a central figure in reform movements until her death in 1880.
In the true marriage relation, the independence of the husband and wife is equal, the dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.
The likeness we bear to Jesus is more essential than our notions of him.
In the marriage union, the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.
Any great change must expect opposition, because it shakes the very foundation of privilege.
A child, like all other human beings, has inalienable rights.
Weep not for me. Rather let your tears flow for the sorrows of the multitude. My work is done. Like a ripe fruit I admit the gathering. Death has no terrors for it is a wise law of nature. I am ready whenever the summons may come.
My convictions led me to adhere to the sufficiency of the light within us, resting on truth as authority, rather than 'taking authority for truth.'
The Law has made the man and wife one person, and that one person the husband!
The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women, the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source.
Liberty is no less a blessing because oppression has so long darkened the mind that it can not appreciate it.
Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her mind to some extent paralyzed; and like those still more degraded by personal bondage she hugs her chains.
I have no idea of submitting tamely to injustice inflicted either on me or on the slave. I will oppose it with all the moral powers with which I am endowed. I am no advocate of passivity.
The legal theory is, that marriage makes the husband and wife one person, and that person is the husband.
In the true married relationship, the independence of husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.
Those who read the Scriptures and judge for themselves, not resting satisfied with the perverted application of the text, do not find the distinction that theology and ecclesiastical authorities have made in the condition of the sexes.
The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source.
Let our lives be in accordance with our convictions of right, each striving to carry out our principles.
The laws given on Mount Sinai for the government of man and woman were equal; the precepts of Jesus make no distinction.
It is not Christianity, but priestcraft that has subjected woman as we find her.
We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.
Learning, while at school, that the charge for the education of girls was the same as that for boys, and that, when they became teachers, women received only half as much as men for their services, the injustice of this distinction was so apparent.
There is nothing of greater importance to the well-being of society at large -- of man as well as woman -- than the true proper position of woman.