Quotes from Christine de Pizan

one could find plenty of intelligent women in the world if one were willing to look.

By nature man without woman can feel no joy. She is his mother, his sister, his loving friend. She is seldom his enemy.

Speak gently but look out for your rights.

I do not consider my deeds or my knowledge to be a great thing. The only fact is — and I can say this honestly — that I love learning and a solitary life.

For this reason, it is well said that misfortune is sometimes good for something, for it teaches at the same time that it hurts.

These are my habits and the way I spend my life: studying literature.

Through her ingenuity she invented a shorthand Greek script in which a long written narrative could be transcribed with far fewer letters, and which is still used by the Greeks today, a fine invention whose discovery demanded great sublety. She [Minerva/Pallas (Athena)] invented numbers and a means of quickly counting and adding sums.

She [Isis] invented a form of shorthand which she taught to the Egyptians and provided them a way to abridge their excessively involved script.

A woman with a mind is fit for any task.

Just as women's bodies are softer than men's, so their understanding is sharper." ? Christine de Pizan She was the first woman in France to earn a living by her writing! Born 1364, she advocated for women's equality, wrote poetry, novels, biography, an autobiography, literary, political and religious commentary. She was the widowed mother of three and, perhaps, the first feminist!

De leerling, die de meester vragen stelt om wijzer te worden, moet niet worden bestraft, als hij alles wil onderzoeken.

Moreover, in order to show forth her wisdom and the excellence of her mind to the centuries to come, she [Nicostrata/Carmentis] worked and studied so hard that she invented her own letters, which were completely different from those of other nations, that is, she established the Latin alphabet and syntax, spelling, the difference between the vowels and consonants, as well as a complete introduction to the science of grammar.

There is quite often argument and discord, as much in outlook as in conversation, between old people and young ones, to the point that they can hardly stand each other, as though they were members of two different species.

la opinión común a todos los hombres es que las mujeres nunca sirvieron para otra cosa que para traer hijos e hilar la lana.

Acaso ignoras que lo que más se discute y debate es precisamente lo que más valor tiene?

Si las mujeres hubiesen escrito los libros, estoy segura de que lo habrían hecho de otra forma, porque ellas saben que se las acusa en falso.]

por qué los hombres, clérigos y otros, se dedican a insultar a las mujeres?

Yet here stand women not simply accused, but already judged, sentenced and condemned.

Alone am I, and alone I wish to be; Alone my sweet love has left me. Alone am I, without friend or mate, Alone am I, mournful and angry.