When women act like women, they are accused of being inferior. When women act like human beings, they are accused of behaving like men.

I think that feminism permits women to speak among themselves, instead of simply being resentful, having personal complaints, which get them nowhere and which make them sick and ill-tempered, depressive and poison the lives of their husbands and children. It's much better to arrive at a collective consciousness of this problem, which is both a kind of therapy and the basis for a struggle.

I think that The Second Sex will seem an old, dated book, after a while. But nonetheless, a book which will have made its contribution. At least, I hope so.

Man is a talking animal and he will always let himself be swayed by the power of the word. Machines won't change human nature.

Capabilities are clearly manifested only when they have been realized.

Weakness' is weakness only in light of the aims man sets for himself, the instruments at his disposal and the laws he imposes.

Words have to murder reality before they can hold it captive.