The surest evidence of strong-mindedness in woman is to fly in the fact
of fashion.
* * *
Ridicule is woman's keenest weapon; it is the poisoned arrow in her
quiver. Well is it for the men that she never, or so rarely, has
recourse to it.
* * *
A woman is quick to discern the quality of the admiration bestowed upon
her.
* * *
No one, not even herself, knows what a woman will do next.--Doubtless
this is trite. But it is true as trite. Yet men rarely find it out till
late in life--and forget it as soon as found out.
* * *
A woman can say more in a sigh than a man can say in a sermon.
* * *
Nothing piques a woman so much as indifference to her favors.
Indifference to her undiscovered passion she quite otherwise regards.
* * *
The woman knows the male heart probably better than does it itself. She
knows above all things, that to hold that heart she must never wholly
satisfy it. And many--and multiform--and marvelous--are the ruses by
which she accomplishes that end. And yet,
Women there are who firmly believe that, were they to try, they could
enthrall any man beyond possibility of extrication. And 48 so perhaps
they could; but the achievement would require as much unscrupulousness as
it would seductiveness.
The seductive and unscrupulous woman is hatred of women.
* * *
Under the gaze of a group of men whom she knows that her brilliancy
dazzles, a woman, like the snow-clad hearth, sparkles:
Under the gaze of a man by whom she knows she is passionately desired,
like the same earth under the lordly sun, she melts.
* * *
All women think they can cozen men: few women think they can cozen women.
* * *
The women who perturb men most are those who combine too effectively
adorableness with desirableness.
* * *
As in nature, so in humanity, flight on the part of the lady is not
always symbol of unwillingness of pursuit. On the other hand
Feminine audacity by no means betokens feminine immodesty.
Feminine obduracy is invincible by man. Luckily, it is rare.
* * *
Men call women variable: did she not vary, men would tire. This, women
instinctively know.