“ I like a woman to have some knowledge of everything; but I cannot admire in her the revolting passion of wishing to be clever for the mere sake of being clever. ”
Molière, The Learned Ladies (1672). copy citation
| Author | Molière |
|---|---|
| Source | The Learned Ladies |
| Topic | passion revolt |
| Date | 1672 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Charles Heron Wall |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Learned_Women |
Context
“If you would but fall in with their views, you would secure their favour and their esteem.
CLI. I am so sincere that I can never bring myself to praise, even in your sister, that side of her character which resembles theirs. Female doctors are not to my taste. I like a woman to have some knowledge of everything; but I cannot admire in her the revolting passion of wishing to be clever for the mere sake of being clever. I prefer that she should, at times, affect ignorance of what she really knows. In short, I like her to hide her knowledge, and to be learned without publishing her learning abroad, quoting the authors, making use of pompous words, and being witty under the least provocation.”
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