Pagina 203 de 1391

Has not nature scattered all the qualities which our citizens

require indifferently up and down among the two sexes? and even

in their peculiar pursuits, are not women often, though in some

cases superior to men, ridiculously enough surpassed by them?

Women are the same in kind as men, and have the same aptitude or

want of aptitude for medicine or gymnastic or war, but in a less

degree. One woman will be a good guardian, another not; and the

good must be chosen to be the colleagues of our guardians. If

however their natures are the same, the inference is that their

education must also be the same; there is no longer anything

unnatural or impossible in a woman learning music and gymnastic.

And the education which we give them will be the very best, far

superior to that of cobblers, and will train up the very best

women, and nothing can be more advantageous to the State than

this.