Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/74

68 any being but itelf and the model of perfection to which its ardent gaze is turned, to adore attributes that, oftened into virtues, may be imitated in kind, though the degree overwhelms the enraptured mind.

If, I ay, for I would not impres by declamation when Reaon offers her ober light, if they are really capable of acting like rational creatures, let them not be treated like laves; or, like the brutes who are dependent on the reaon of man, when they aociate with him; but cultivate their minds, give them the alutary, ublime curb of principle, and let them attain concious dignity by feeling themelves only dependent on God. Teach them, in common with man, to ubmit to neceity, intead of giving, to render them more pleaing, a ex to morals.

Further, hould experience prove that they cannot attain the ame degree of trength of mind, pereverence, and fortitude, let their virtues be the ame in kind, though they may vainly truggle for the ame degree; and the uperiority of man will be equally clear, if not clearer; and truth, as it is a imple principle, which admits of no modification, would be common to both. Nay, the order of ociety as it is at preent regulated would not be inverted, for woman would then only have the rank that reaon aigned her, and arts could not be practied to bring the balance even, much les to turn it.

Thee may be termed Utopian dreams.—Thanks to that Being who impreed them on my oul, and gave me ufficient trength of mind to dare to exert my own reaon, till, becoming dependent&ensp;