Olympe de Gouges Quotes

Male and female citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, must be equally admitted to all honors, positions, and public employment according to their capacity and without other distinctions besides those of their virtues and talents.

Woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility.

Regardless of what barriers confront you, it is in your power to free yourselves; you have only to want to.

All citizens including women are equally admissible to all public dignities, offices, and employments, according to their capacity, and with no other distinction than that of their virtues and talents.

Women, rouse yourselves! The tocsin of reason resounds through the whole universe: recognize your rights. The powerful empire of nature is no longer surrounded by prejudices, fanaticism, superstition and lies.

Women, wake up; the tocsin of reason sounds throughout the universe; recognize your rights.

Women have the right to mount the scaffold; they should likewise have the right to mount the rostrum.