#omen

JB’s mother had taught him early on that appreciated women are happy women. ↗

As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing. What has happened?' the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby carriage along the sidewalk. Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well,' replied the man; 'and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City.' Hm!' said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. 'If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?' I really do not know,' replied the man, with a deep sigh. 'Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron. ↗

— L. Frank Baum

#men

It sometimes entered Mr. Pontellier's mind to wonder if his wife were not growing a little unbalanced mentally. He could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world. ↗

— Kate Chopin

#women #mental-health

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains. ↗

— Diane Ackerman

#beside #childhood #conjure #fleeting #lake

For the creation of a masterwork of literature two powers must concur, the power of the man and the power of the moment, and the man is not enough without the moment. ↗

— Matthew Arnold

#creation #enough #literature #man #moment

I do so love my witches and wicked queens. I find myself drawn to feminine archetypes that previous generations have found threatening or dangerous: crones, oracles, madwomen, Amazons, virgins who aren’t helpless, bad mothers. I love to give the vagina dentata voice. It so rarely gets to speak for itself. ↗

— Catherynne M. Valente

#women #love

Don't try to make me grow up before my time… ↗

— Louisa May Alcott

#little-women #louisa-may-alcott #growing-up

For a moment at least, be a smile on someone else’s face. ↗

— Dejan Stojanovic

#dejan-stojanovic #face #literature #literature-quotes #moment

Be thou an example. ↗

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

#jesus-christ

...if you live with your conscience and follow your instincts, you can get through with inner peace. ↗