But it is vain to expect the present race of weak mothers either
to take that reasonable care of a child's body, which is
necessary to lay the foundation of a good constitution, supposing
that it do not suffer for the sins of its
fathers; or, to manage its temper so judiciously that the
child will not have, as it grows up, to throw off all that its
mother, its first instructor, directly or indirectly taught; and
unless the mind have uncommon vigour, womanish follies will stick
to the character throughout life. The weakness of the mother will
be visited on the children! And whilst women are educated to rely
on their husbands for judgment, this must ever be the
consequence, for there is no improving an understanding by
halves, nor can any being act wisely from imitation, because in
every circumstance of life there is a kind of individuality,
which requires an exertion of judgment to modify general rules.
The being who can think justly in one track, will soon extend its
intellectual empire; and she who has sufficient judgment to
manage her children, will not submit, right or wrong, to her
husband, or patiently to the social laws which make a nonentity
of a wife.
