Since the days of Adam, there has been hardly a mischief done in this world but a woman has been at the bottom of it.
 William Makepeace Thackeray, The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844). copy citation

Context

“Mr Leslie Stephen says: 'All later critics have recognised in this book one of his most powerful performances. In directness and vigour he never surpassed it.'
W.J. THE MEMOIRES OF BARRY LYNDON, ESQ. CHAPTER I. MY PEDIGREE AND FAMILY—UNDERGO THE INFLUENCE OF THE TENDER Passion Since the days of Adam, there has been hardly a mischief done in this world but a woman has been at the bottom of it. Ever since ours was a family (and that must be very NEAR Adam's time,—so old, noble, and illustrious are the Barrys, as everybody knows) women have played a mighty part with the destinies of our race.” source

Meaning and analysis

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