Ellen Key

“The more horrifying this world becomes, the more art becomes abstract.”

“The storm and stress period of women and the new social and psychological formations thereby entailed must indeed extend far into the twentieth century. This period of conflict will cease only when woman within and out of marriage shall have received legal equality with man.”

“Our age gives the more receptive among the young such a sense of social responsibility that one is inclined at times to fear that social interests may encroach upon individual development, that a knowledge of all the ills affecting the community may act as too powerful a damper on the joys of youth.”

“Love is moral even without legal marriage, but marriage is immoral without love.”

“The simplest formula for the new conception of morality, which is beginning to be opposed to the moral dogma still esteemed by all society, but especially by the women, might be summed up in these words: Love is moral even without legal marriage, but marriage is immoral without love.”

“Ambition has developed into a passion which drives women, as well as men, to great works - and small deeds. Formerly competitors in the race for men, they are now competing in the race for social tasks and distinctions.”

“Happiness lies so far from man, but he must begin by daring to will it.”

“If, in the coming thousand years, a feminine culture shall really supplement the masculine, then this will be exactly in the measure in which women have the courage to create and to act as most feminists now do not even dare think.”

“At every step the child should be allowed to meet the real experience of life; the thorns should never be plucked from his roses.”

“Those who profess the faith of Life regard the ideals of mankind as an expression of man's higher needs. Ideals which were once incentives to development thus become a drag upon it whenever life's needs demand new forms that are not recognised by the prevailing idealism.”

“When one paints an ideal, one does not need to limit one's imagination.”

“Education can give you a skill, but a liberal education can give you dignity.”