Mary Wollstonecraft

“ If I see a child act in this way, I am ready to embrace it, my soul yearns for it—I perceive the dawning of a character that will be useful to society, as it prepares its soul for a nobler field of action. ”

“ Indeed, this seems to be the essential difference between a great and a little mind: the former knows how to endure—whilst the latter suffers an immortal soul to be depressed, lost in its abode; suffers the inconveniences which attack the one to overwhelm the other. ”

“ I am sorry to see a girl of your age weep on account of bodily pain; it is a proof of a weak mind, a proof
that you cannot employ yourself about things of consequence. How often must I tell you, that the Most High is educating us for eternity?
"The term virtue comes from a word signifying strength. Fortitude of mind is, therefore, the basis of every virtue, and virtue belongs to a being, that is weak in its nature, and strong only in will and resolution."
Children early feel bodily pain, to habituate them to bear the conflicts of the soul, when they become reasonable creatures. ”

“ I should not value the affection of a person who would not bear pain and hunger to serve me; nor is that benevolence warm, which shrinks from encountering difficulties, when it is necessary, in order to be useful to any fellow-creature. ”

“ Those who, when young, weep if the least trifle annoys them, will never, I fear, have sufficient strength of mind to encounter all the miseries that can afflict the body, rather than act meanly to avoid them. ”

“ When it is necessary to take a nauseous draught, swallow it at once, and do not make others sick whilst you are hesitating, though you know that you ought to take it. If a tooth is to be drawn, or any other disagreeable operation to be performed, determine resolutely that it shall be done immediately ”