270 Heredity. 



they have therefore often attained very great eminence as 

 conversationalists, as actresses, and as novelists. In the 

 ethics of intellect they are decidedly inferior. Women 

 very rarely love truth, though they love passionately 

 what they call 'the truth,' or opinions they have received 

 from others. They are little capable of impartiality or 

 of doubt; their thinking is chiefly a mode of feeling; 

 though very generous in their acts, they are rarely 

 generous in their opinions, and their leaning is nat- 

 urally to the side of restriction. They persuade rather 

 than convince, and value belief rather as a source of 

 consolation than as a faithful expression of the reality 

 of things. They are less capable than men of distinguish- 

 ing the personal character of an opponent from the 

 opinions he maintains. Their affections are concentrated 

 rather on leaders than on causes, and if they care for a 

 great cause it is generally because it is represented by a 

 great man, or connected with some one whom they love. 

 In politics their enthusiasm is more naturally loyalty 

 than patriotism. In benevolence they excel in charity 

 rather than in philanthropy." While I cannot believe 

 that Lecky's statement is entirely unprejudiced, I think 

 no one will deny that the Views which I have quoted 

 agree in the main with those which have gained general 

 acceptance in the past. At the present time, however, 

 there is a growing tendency to regard the relations of the 

 sexes as due in great part to male selfishness; and while 

 the substantial correctness of our view of the differences 

 between the male and the female character is acknowl- 

 edged, its origin is attributed to the "subjection" of 

 women by men. In this paper I have attempted to pre- 

 sent reasons, which I believe are new, for regarding the 

 differences as natural and of the greatest importance to 

 the race. 



