Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper Quotes

“This led me very promptly to the conviction that those “feminine charms” we are so fond of are not feminine at all, but mere reflected masculinity—developed to please us because they had to please us, and in no way essential to the real fulfillment of their great process.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“We honor them for their functional powers, even while we dishonor them by our use of it; we honor them for their carefully enforced virtue, even while we show by our own conduct how little we think of that virtue; we value them, sincerely, for the perverted maternal activities which make our wives the most comfortable of servants, bound to us for life with the wages wholly at our own decision, their whole business, outside of the temporary duties of such motherhood as they may achieve, to meet our needs in every way.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“The tradition of men as guardians and protectors had quite died out. These stalwart virgins had no men to fear and therefore no need of protection.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“Patriotism is largely pride, and very largely combativeness. Patriotism generally has a chip on its shoulder.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“This led me very promptly to the conviction that those “feminine charms” we are so fond of are not feminine at all, but mere reflected masculinity—developed to please us because they had to please us, and in no way essential to the real fulfillment of their great process. But Terry came to no such conclusion.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland and The Yellow Wallpaper: Illustrated

“The only thing they can think of about a man is Fatherhood!” said Terry in high scorn. “Fatherhood! As if a man was always wanting to be a father!”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“But this succession of misfortunes was too much for those infuriated virgins. There were many of them, and but few of these would-be masters, so the young women, instead of submitting, rose in sheer desperation and slew their brutal conquerors.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland / The Yellow Wallpaper

“But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing.
John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows that there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.”
― Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper & Herland: With Women and Economics