...a being, with a capacity of reasoning, would not have failed to discover, as his faculties unfolded, that true happiness arose from the friendship and intimacy which can only be enjoyed by equals; and that charity is not a condescending distribution of alms, but an intercourse of good offices and mutual benefits, founded on respect for justice and humanity.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

But the days of true heroism are over, when a citizen fought for his country like a Fabrics or a Washington, and then returned to his farm to let his virtuous fervor run in a more placid, but not less salutary, stream.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

Children, I grant, should be innocent; but when the epithet is applied to men, or women, it is but a civil term for weakness.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

England and America owe their liberty to commerce, which created a new species of power to undermine the feudal system. But let them beware of the consequences: the tyranny of wealth is still more galling and debasing than that of rank.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

Few, I believe, have had much affection for mankind, who did not first love their parents, their brothers, sisters, and even the domestic brutes, whom they first played with.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

Friendship is a serious affection the most sublime of all affections because it is founded on principle and cemented by time. The very reverse may be said of love. In a great degree love and friendship cannot subsist in the same bosom even when inspired by different objects they weaken or destroy each other and for the same object can only be felt in succession. The vain fears and fond jealousies the winds which fan the flame of love when judiciously or artfully tempered are both incompatible with the tender confidence and sincere respect of friendship.

— Mary Wollstonecraft

Gracious Creator of the whole human race! Hast thou created such a being as woman, who can trace thy wisdom in thy works, and feel that thou alone art by thy nature, exalted above her-for no better purpose? Can she believe that she was only made to submit to man her equal; a being, who, like her, was sent into the world to acquire virtue? Can she consent to be occupied merely to please him; merely to adorn the earth, when her soul is capable of rising to thee? And can she rest supinely dependent on man for reason, when she ought to mount with him the arduous steeps of knowledge?

— Mary Wollstonecraft

How can a rational being been ennobled by anything that is not obtained by its own exertions?

— Mary Wollstonecraft

I aim at being useful, and sincerity will render me unaffected; for, wishing rather to persuade by the force of my arguments, than dazzle by the elegance of my language, I shall not waste my time in rounding periods, nor in fabricating the turgid bombast of artificial feelings, which, coming from the head, never reach the heart.—I shall be employed about things, not words!

— Mary Wollstonecraft

I do earnestly wish to see the distinction of sex confounded in society, unless where love animates the behavior.

— Mary Wollstonecraft