Nature has not placed us in an inferior rank to men, no more than the females of other animals, where we see no distinction of capacity, though I am persuaded if there was a commonwealth of rational horses... it would be an established maxim amongst them that a mare could not be taught to pace.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to Mary Astell, challenges the notion of female inferiority by drawing a parallel between women and female animals. It argues that just as there is no inherent distinction of ability among female animals, women should not be considered lesser than men. The mention of a hypothetical society of rational horses further emphasizes the arbitrary nature of gender-based assumptions, suggesting that societal prejudices, rather than any true inherent differences, contribute to the perceived limitations imposed on women.

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