And, in the face of the inequality and oppression created by men, of their love of puerile distinctions, of the base deeds which they commit for a bit of ribbon, you accuse women of loving inequality and privileges!
They may love them, like you, but they are better than you, if not more just; they pray for the vanquished, you kill him!
I do not deny that women did much harm to the Revolution of February, for they are as intelligent as men, and have great influence over them. But what did this Revolution do for them, I pray?
Mark me well, you and all those who are blind enough, proud enough, despotic enough to resemble you, and remember what I say.
Woman is like the people: she desires no more of your revolutions, which decimate us for the benefit of a few ambitious babblers.
She will have liberty and equality for all men and women, or she will take care that no one shall have them.
We, Women of Progress, openly declare ourselves adversaries of whoever shall deny the right of woman to liberty.
Our sisters of the people, indignant at their exclusion from the popular assemblies, say to you: you have lured us long enough, it is time that this should end. We will no longer suffer ourselves to be ensnared by your high-sounding words of Justice, Liberty, and Equality, which are only false coin so long as they are applied to but half the human species. Do you wish to save the perishing world? Call woman to your side. If you will not do this, let us alone, insipid phraseologists; you are naught but ambitious hypocrites; we do not wish our husbands to follow you, and they will not.
PROUDHON. Let us consider woman in the antithesis. I have said that woman, considered apart from masculine influence, is nothing.