<p>In reading over some Aristotelian thought the other day on why women were not given the vote (along with slaves and children), a quote came up from a “poet”, who said “Silence is a woman’s glory.” Mmmm, there’s something to that, now what could it be?.. and how could such a thing be conceived?! Where was this poet living? – where oh where?!</p>
<p>Right? Wrong? </p>
<p>I’ll take the answers offline.</p>
<p>That is correct: Silence is (indeed) a woman’s glory.</p>
<p>and, Children should be seen and not heard.</p>
<p>Silence is golden.</p>
<p>leaving, Money talks, bullsheet walks</p>
<p>Well, I disagree. I believe that we are all human and we all have a voice. Children especially have the capacity to teach us the innocence that we lose growing up.</p>
<p>My kids are free to say what they want to, when they want to. If they say the wrong thing, they learn the hard way, through embarrassment and hurt feelings, just like the rest of us do. They’re 17 and 10, and they are the most articulate, confident, considerate, and friendly kids I know.</p>
<p>They learned equally from me and my wife, who is outspoken and assertive but also kind and friendly.</p>
<p>So…I disagree, too.</p>
<p>Anyway, “silence is a woman’s glory” is just a meaningless platitude. That poet was a hack.</p>
<p>It’s not really a surprising sentiment from a guy living in a society where women weren’t even allowed out in public alone and couldn’t own public property. It was a pretty sexist society.</p>
<p>Of course, I disagree with the platitude entirely. It sounds like a more politically correct version of “Women should shut up and stay in the kitchen” or “Women don’t have anything worthwhile to say, so shut up and look pretty.”</p>
<p>Taken out of context I love it. I am constantly telling my own D that silence is a learned art, and indeed a virtue. I’m NOT very good at it myself. But one learns more when they have their mouth shut. Likewise…“better to keep my mouth shut and look like a fool than to open it and erase all doubt”. </p>
<p>HOWEVER, as it relates to the vote? What? Women should be silent about whom is elected to rule their country and therefore by definition their government and life? Yeah. Right. And men should be bringin’ home the bacon too but…how’s that working out for ya?</p>
<p>The poet was. . . nagged to death by his wife.</p>
<p>Many a time I’d have been much more “glorious” if I’d kept my mouth shut.</p>
<p>But that goes for everyone–male and female.</p>