صفحة 511 من 1391

The modern antagonist of the equality of the sexes would argue

that the differences between men and women are not confined to

the single point urged by Plato; that sensibility, gentleness,

grace, are the qualities of women, while energy, strength, higher

intelligence, are to be looked for in men. And the criticism is

just: the differences affect the whole nature, and are not, as

Plato supposes, confined to a single point. But neither can we

say how far these differences are due to education and the

opinions of mankind, or physically inherited from the habits and

opinions of former generations. Women have been always taught,

not exactly that they are slaves, but that they are in an

inferior position, which is also supposed to have compensating

advantages; and to this position they have conformed.