Tennessee Celeste Claflin Quotes & Sayings

The history of woman is the history of the continued and universal oppression of one sex by the other. The emancipation of woman is her restoration to equal rights and privileges with man ... Need we wonder, then, at the sad spectacle which humanity offers us? Its hideous wars, its social abominations, its foul creeds, its treacheries, vices, wants, diseases, lusts, tyrannies, and crimes are the natural outcome of the subjugation of one half of the human race by the other. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

The revolt against any oppression usually goes to an opposite extreme for a time; and that is right and necessary. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

If in this wide world, teeming with abundant supplies for human want, to thousands of wretched creatures no choice is open, save between starvation and sin, may we not justly say that there is something utterly wrong in the system that permits such things to be? — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

The absolute freedom of woman will be the dawn of the day of man's regeneration. In raising her he will elevate himself. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

Rationally considered, nothing can be more absurd than the baptism of infants under any circumstances. No statement, no matter by whom it may be said to have been uttered, can make that true which is radically false. If an innocent child, unconscious of good or evil, irresponsible to God and man, incapable of thought or action, is not already, in accordance with Christian theology, a member of Christ, then no vicarious promise or priestly ablution can make him one. For if this were so, a similar ceremony under devil worship could make him a member of Satan. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

In all cases of monstrosity at birth anaesthetics should be applied by doctors publicly appointed for that purpose ... Every successive year would see fewer of the unfit born, and finally none. But, it may be urged, this is legalized infanticide. Assuredly it is; and it is urgently needed. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

Men of highest genius have been too frequently of extremely shaky morals. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

No community where more than one-half of the adults are disfranchised and otherwise incapacitated by law and custom, can be free from great vices. Purity is inconsistent with slavery. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

Criminality should be exterminated by disabling all notorious and irreclaimable criminals. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

With all her masculine vigour and glory, Greece fell, gradually atrophied, because one half of her had been, of set purpose, intellectually and politically paralyzed. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

It is as true in morals as in physics that all force is imperishable; therefore the consequences of a human action never cease. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

While we honour religion and believe it to be a powerful factor in elevating our race, we discriminate, as we hope our readers will also do, between it and dogmatism. Dogmatism has been the bane of civilization and a curse to mankind. It has degraded our sex, stifled intelligent inquiry, and persecuted every independent reformer and every noble cause. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

We hope the day will soon come when every girl will be a member of a great Union of Unmarried Women, pledged to refuse an offer ofmarriage from any man who is not an advocate of their emancipation. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

Widows are more skillful anglers for husbands than spinsters, and many marry several times. This is a social injustice to spinsters. "One man one woman," is surely as fair a cry as "One man one vote." As there is scarcely one man for each woman, what right has one woman to two, three, or four men in succession? She may reply, "By the right of conquest." But, then, is she not reducing others to unhappy courses or to become old maids? ... Society, for the interests of all, should discourage the remarriage of widows. — Tennessee Celeste Claflin

Let us have a fair field! This is all we ask, and we will be content with nothing less. The finger of evolution, which touches everything, is laid tenderly upon women. They have on their side all the elements of progress, and its spirit stirs within them. They are fighting, not for themselves alone, but for the future of humanity. Let them have a fair field! — Tennessee Celeste Claflin