Catharine Esther Beecher was an American educator and author. She is most known for her forthright opinions on female education. She popularized and shaped a conservative ideological movement to both elevate and entrench women’s place in the domestic sphere of American culture.
Beecher was born on September 6, 1800, in East Hampton, New York, as the daughter of outspoken religious leader Lyman Beecher. Beecher was the eldest daughter in one of the most remarkable families of the 19th century. Beecher was most influential as a writer. Her major work, A Treatise on Domestic Economy, was the first American work to deal with all facets of domestic life. She was a staunch supporter of the anti-suffrage movement, believing that women should not be given the right to vote as they were more suited for domestic work. She passed away on May 12, 1878.
1 The great want of our race is perfect educators to train new-born minds, who are infallible teachers of what is right and true. -Catharine Beecher
The survival of a society is wholly dependent upon their younger generations. It is the responsibility of the adult generation to train the younger ones to possess independent thought and the right sense of good and bad.
2 The principle of subordination is the great bond of union and harmony through the universe. -Catharine Beecher
People need a leader whom they can follow and look up to. Only great and able leaders have kept large societies from plunging down into chaos and kept them united and in harmony.
3 The delicate and infirm go for sympathy, not to the well and buoyant, but to those who have suffered like themselves. -Catharine Beecher
People are drawn to those who they can relate with and will understand their own pains and troubles. And hence, they very often move to those who suffered through the same kind of trouble as they themselves have.
4 As if reasoning were any kind of writing or talking which tends to convince people that some doctrine or measure is true and right. -Catharine Beecher
Reasoning is not something that comes naturally to people. Nor is it an ubiquitous text or speech. It can only help those who are willing to listen and engage in a logical discourse.
5 Good manners are the expressions of benevolence in personal intercourse, by which we endeavor to promote the comfort and enjoyment of others. -Catherine Beecher
Good manners are those tiny things that we do in daily life so as to not hurt those that we interact with and make them feel comfortable and at ease with us. Manners are an essential part of any social interaction.
6 The present standard of honesty, as to trade and debts, is very low, and every year seems sinking still lower. -Catharine Beecher
As time goes by, the standards of honesty, truthfulness, kindness and everything else that a society balances on has only been declining. Somehow, it seems like we are becoming less of what we aimed to be.
7 The ability to secure an independent livelihood and honorable employ suited to her education and capacities is the only true foundation of the social elevation of women. -Catherine Beecher
Financial independence is the only way women of this society can be truly empowered. They need to break free from the shackles of dependency that the society has imposed upon them since ages and learn to stand on their own feet.
8 It is the right and duty of every woman to employ the power of organization and agitation in order to gain those advantages which are given to the one sex. -Catharine Beecher
It is the duty of women to stand up for the rights that they have been denied. They need to unite and organise to agitate against the unjustly means with which the society treats them.
9 Woman’s great mission is to train immature, weak and ignorant creatures to obey the laws of God; the physical, the intellectual, the social and the moral. -Catharine Beecher
Women are compassionate and empathetic and hence they have it in them to be better educators than their counterparts. They can instill values of morality and ethics in their students and make them better human beings.
9 Best Catharine Beecher Quotes To Live By!
1. The great want of our race is perfect educators to train new-born minds, who are infallible teachers of what is right and true. -Catharine Beecher
2. The principle of subordination is the great bond of union and harmony through the universe. -Catharine Beecher
3. The delicate and infirm go for sympathy, not to the well and buoyant, but to those who have suffered like themselves. -Catharine Beecher
4. As if reasoning were any kind of writing or talking which tends to convince people that some doctrine or measure is true and right. -Catharine Beecher
5. Good manners are the expressions of benevolence in personal intercourse, by which we endeavor to promote the comfort and enjoyment of others. -Catherine Beecher
6. The present standard of honesty, as to trade and debts, is very low, and every year seems sinking still lower. -Catharine Beecher
7. The ability to secure an independent livelihood and honorable employ suited to her education and capacities is the only true foundation of the social elevation of women. -Catherine Beecher
8. It is the right and duty of every woman to employ the power of organization and agitation in order to gain those advantages which are given to the one sex. -Catharine Beecher
9. Woman’s great mission is to train immature, weak and ignorant creatures to obey the laws of God; the physical, the intellectual, the social and the moral. -Catharine Beecher
