How many women are there…who because of their husbands' harshness spend their weary lives in the bond of marriage in greater suffering than if they were slaves among the Saracens?

— Christine de Pizan Le Livre de la Cité des Dames (1405)

Quantes femmes est il qui usent leur vie au lien de mariage par la durte de leurs maris en plus grant penitence que se elles feussent esclaves entre les sarazins.

Original text (French)

Another quote →

More quotes by Christine de Pizan

The man or the woman in whom resides greater virtue is the higher; neither the loftiness nor the lowliness of a person lies in the body according to the sex, but in the perfection of conduct and virtues.

Le Livre de la Cité des Dames (1405)

Since God chose His spouse from among women, most excellent Lady, because of your honor, not only should men refrain from reproaching women but should also hold them in great reverence.

Le Livre de la Cité des Dames (1405)

Alone am I, and alone I wish to be;
Alone my sweet love has left me.
Alone am I, without friend or mate,
Alone am I, mournful and angry.

If it were customary to send daughters to school like sons, and if they were then taught the natural sciences, they would learn as thoroughly and understand the subtleties of all the arts and sciences as well as sons.

Le Livre de la Cité des Dames (1405)

For what would I be otherwise but sport,
In love with one who does not care for me?
I will hide pain in smiles, sooner than be
The common talk. It is a bitter art
To sing a happy song with a sad heart.

All Christine de Pizan quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Christine de Pizan (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.

How many women are there…who because of their husbands' harshness spend their weary lives in the bond of marriage in greater suffering than if they were slaves among the Saracens?

Share this quote

More quotes by Christine de Pizan

Attribution