Quotes from Charlotte Perkins Gilman

But I find I get pretty tired when I try.

We found a friendly nut-tree, those large, satisfying nuts we already knew so well, and filled our pockets. I see that I have not remarked that these women had pockets in surprising number and variety. They were in all their garments.

They were inconveniently reasonable, those women.

They were much surprised that we were still burying—asked our reasons for it, and were much dissatisfied with what we gave. We told them of the belief in the resurrection of the body, and they asked if our God was not able to resurrect from ashes as from long corruption. We told them of how people thought it repugnant to have their loved ones burn, and they asked if it was less repugnant to have them decay. They were inconveniently reasonable, those women.

He never seemed to recognize the quiet background of superiority. When she dropped an argument he always thought he had silenced her; when she laughed he thought it tribute to his wit.

It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most women do not creep by daylight.

There is no female mind. The brain is not an organ of sex. As well speak of a female liver.

But I MUST say what I feel and think in some way — it is such a relief! But the effort is getting to be greater than the relief.

It does not do to trust people too much.

When all usefulness is over, when one is assured of an unavoidable and imminent death, it is the simplest of human rights to choose a quick and easy death in place of a slow and horrible one.

Death? Why all this fuss about death? Use your imagination, try to visualize a world without death! Death is the essential condition to life, not an evil.

There are things in that paper that nobody knows but me, or ever will.

I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.

Now why should that man have fainted? But he did,and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!

In a sick society, women who have difficulty fitting in are not ill but demonstrating a healthy and positive response.

Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able, - to dress and entertain, and order things

As for mother Eve - I wasn't there and can't deny the story, but I will say this. If she brought evil into the world, we men have had the lion's share of keeping it going ever since.

Patriotism, red hot, is compatible with the existence of a neglect of national interests, a dishonesty, a cold indifference to the suffering of millions. Patriotism is largely pride, and very largely combativeness. Patriotism generally has a chip on its shoulder.

I never saw a worse paper in my life. One of those sprawling flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin.

I am glad my case is not serious! But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing. John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.

John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.

You think you have mastered it, but just as you get well underway in following, it turns a back-somersault and there you are. It slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you. It is like a bad dream.

Here she comes, running, out of prison and off the pedestal: chains off, crown off, halo off, just a live woman.

I'm sure I never used to be so sensitive. I think it is due to this nervous condition.