Today’s quote comes from Abigail Adams, in a letter which was a series of correspondence between her and John Adams.
I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives.
But you must remember that arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken; and, notwithstanding all your wise laws and maxims, we have it in our power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and without violence, throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet.
Thought you would get a kick out of it. For any number of reasons, not the least of which that it’s always been clear that Abigail shared the pants in her family.
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