Mary Abigail Dodge

thumb|Mary Abigail Dodge thumb|Woman's Wrongs: A Counter-irritant (1868) Mary Abigail Dodge (March 31, 1833 – August 17, 1896) was an American writer and essayist, under pseudonym Gail Hamilton. Her writing is noted for its wit and promotion of equality of education and occupation for women. Quotes It is the crushed grape that gives out the blood-red wine. It is the suffering soul that breathes the sweetest melodies. Stumbling-Blocks (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1864), Ch. XV, p. 434 Love me, and tell me so sometimes. A New Atmosphere (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865), Ch. XI, p. 198. Christ made no distinction, but opened the door wide to woman as to man. Woman's Wrongs: A Counter-Irritant (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1868), p. 205 Country Living and Country Thinking (1862) Country Living and Country Thinking (Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1862) Whatever an author puts between the two covers of his book is public property; whatever of himself he does not put there is his private property, as much as if he had never written a word. Preface, p. iii. Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more,—and none can tell whose sphere is the largest. "Men and Women", p. 167. Genius is expansive, irresistible, and irresistibly expansive. If it is in you, no cords can confine it. "Men and Women", p. 193. Woman's Worth and Worthlessness (1872) Woman's Worth and Worthlessness: The Complement to "A New Atmosphere" (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1872) Indeed, there is generally no such thing as duty to the people who really do it. They simply take life as it comes, meeting, not shirking, its demands, whether pleasant or unpleasant; and that is pretty much all there is of it. Ch. V: "Things Needed and Things Wanted", p. 91. Man pays deference to woman instinctively, involuntarily, not because she is beautiful, or truthful, or wise, or foolish, or proper, but because she is woman, and he can not help it. If she descends, he will lower to her level; if she rises, he will rise to her height. Ch. IX: "Servile Occupations", p. 171. Men as yet need some help to their imagination. There remains still room for a little illusion. It is better for men, it is better for women, that each somewhat idealize the other. Much is lost when life has lost its atmosphere, and is reduced to naked facts. Ch. XVII: "Results", p. 281. Man has subdued the world, but woman has subdued man. Mind and muscle have won his victories; love and loveliness have gained hers. No monarch has been so great, no peasant so lowly, that he has not been glad to lay his best at the feet of a woman. Ch. XVII: "Results", p. 289. Disputed The total depravity of inanimate things. The title of an essay by Katherine K. C. Walker in The Atlantic Monthly (September 1864), but the phrase is sometimes attributed without citation to Dodge. External links Mary Abigail Dodge Gail_Hamilton Gail Hamilton Essays by Gail Hamilton at Quotidiana.org Category:People from Massachusetts Category:Essayists from the United States Category:Women authors from the United States Category:Blind people Category:1833 births Category:1896 deaths Category:Women born in the 19th century