35 Lucretia Mott Quotes From The Abolitionist And Women's Rights Activist

Lucretia Mott was a renowned American nineteenth-century social activist.

In 1865, Mott fought for the right those enslaved to vote.  She also upheld women's rights on equality.

Here you'll find some great Lucretia Mott abolitionist quotes, plus Lucretia Mott quotes about women's suffrage. She was an incredibly inspiring figure who remains important today.

The quotes here portray her ideologies.  For similar quotes, please refer to [Harriet Beecher Stowe] and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

‍

Quotes From Lucretia Mott On Abolitionism

Lucretia Mott, who worked against slavery, gave us the following famous abolitionist quotes.

1."The denial of our duty to act is a bold denial of our right to act"

― Lucretia Mott.

2."I have no idea of submitting tamely to injustice inflicted either on me or on the slave. I will oppose it with all the moral powers with which I am endowed. I am no advocate of passivity."

― Lucretia Mott.

3."Liberty is not less a blessing, because oppression has so long darkened the mind that it can not appreciate it."

― Lucretia Mott.

4.

"Let us no longer be blinded by the dim theology that only in the far seeing vision discovers a millennium, when violence shall no more be heard in the land wasting nor destruction in her borders; but let us behold it now, nigh at the door lending faith and confidence to our hopes, assuring us that even we ourselves shall be instrumental in proclaiming liberty to the captive."

― Lucretia Mott.

Best Quotes By Lucretia Mott

Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the first women rights movement in July 1848. Here are some of the Seneca Falls Convention quotes.

5."I want that there should be a belief, a faith in the possibility of removing mountains to the side of right."

― Lucretia Mott.

6."If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?"

― Lucretia Coffin Mott.

7."Let our lives be in accordance with our convictions of right, each striving to carry out our principles."

― Lucretia Mott.

8."Any great change must expect opposition, because it shakes the very foundation of privilege."

― Lucretia Mott.

9."If we believe that war is wrong, as everyone must, then we ought to believe that by proper efforts on our part, it may be done away with."

― Lucretia Mott.

10."The cause of peace has had my share of efforts, taking the ultra non-resistance ground — that a Christian cannot consistently uphold, and actively support, a government based on the sword, or whose ultimate resort is to the destroying weapons."

― Lucretia Mott.

11."Weep not for me. Rather let your tears flow for the sorrows of the multitude. My work is done. Like a ripe fruit I admit the gathering."

― Lucretia Coffin Mott.

12."Death has no terrors for it is a wise law of nature. I am ready whenever the summons may come."

― Lucretia Coffin Mott.

Lucretia Mott Quotes And Explanations About Women

Listed here are the Lucretia Coffin Mott quotes on resistance to the oppression of women, plus Quaker quotes in which she refers to God and the Scriptures that indicate gender equality.

13."Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her mind to some extent paralyzed; and like those still more degraded by personal bondage she hugs her chains."

― Lucretia Mott.

14."Learning, while at school, that the charge for the education of girls was the same as that for boys, and that, when they became teachers, women received only half as much as men for their services, the injustice of this distinction was so apparent."

― Lucretia Mott.

15."There is nothing of greater importance to the well-being of society at large - of man as well as a woman - than the true proper position of woman."

― Lucretia Mott.

16."It is not Christianity, but priestcraft that has subjected woman as we find her."

― Lucretia Mott.

17."I want that we may all show our faith by our works, by our honesty and justice and mercy and love."

― Lucretia Mott.

18."So circumscribed have been her limits, that she does not realize the misery of her condition."

― Lucretia Mott.

19."The laws given on Mount Sinai for the government of man and woman were equal; the precepts of Jesus make no distinction."

― Lucretia Mott.

20."I grew up so thoroughly imbued with women's rights that it was the most important question of my life from a very early day."

― Lucretia Mott.

21."The legal theory is, that marriage makes the husband and wife one person, and that person is the husband."

― Lucretia Mott.

22."In the marriage union, the independence of the husband and wife will be equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal."

― Lucretia Mott.

23."Let woman then go on-not asking favors, but claiming as a right the removal of all hindrances to her elevation in the scale of being-let her receive encouragement for the proper cultivation of all her powers, so that she may enter profitably into the active business of life."

― Lucretia Mott.

24."Women's property has been taxed, equally with that of men's, to sustain colleges endowed by the states; but they have not been permitted to enter those high seminaries of learning."

― Lucretia Mott.

25."Let her [woman] receive encouragement for the proper cultivation of all her powers, so that she may enter profitably into the active business of life."

― Lucretia Mott.

26."Far be it for me to encourage women to vote, or take an active part in politics in the present state of our government. Her right to the elective franchise, however, is the same, and should be yielded to her, whether she exercise that right or not."

― Lucretia Mott.

27. "The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source."

― Lucretia Mott.

28."I long for the day my sisters will rise, and occupy the sphere to which they are called by their high nature and destiny."

― Lucretia Mott.

Lucretia Mott Truth Quotes

Here are more of her words that make profound and impressive statements.

29."Those who go forth ministering to the wants and necessities of their fellow beings experience a rich return, their souls being as a watered garden, and a spring that faileth not."

― Lucretia Mott.

30."Man is not by nature a tyrant, but becomes a tyrant by power conferred on him."

― Lucretia Mott.

31."My convictions led me to adhere to the sufficiency of the light within us, resting on truth as authority, rather than 'taking authority for truth.'"

― Lucretia Mott.

32."A child, like all other human beings, has inalienable rights."

― Lucretia Mott.

33."We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by truth."

― Lucretia Mott.

34."It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ."

― Lucretia Mott.

35."Christian soldiers armed with virtue - hearts afire with blind obsession, cannot see the difference 'twixt compassion and oppression."

― Lucretia Mott.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 35 Lucretia Mott quotes from the abolitionist and women's rights activist, then why not take a look at women Supporting women quotes, or Civil Rights quotes.

‍

Main image credit: Lefteris Papaulakis / Shutterstock.com