M E N and WOMEN compared . 7 5 
very different turn of thought arffing from education, and the 
different objedls the fexes are converfant with, even from the 
cradle to the grave. But we may alfo obferve how great affi- 
nity there is in fouls, and how naturally we court our like, with 
regard to the pleafures of the underflanding. Hence it arifes 
that women of ftrong fenfe, generally prefer the converfation of 
men, tho’ not to the prejudice of that delicacy which fupports 
the molt amiable and neceffary diflindion. And here let me 
quote from a man of great reputation, tho’ I change a few of 
his words : “ If thou feeft a woman of underflanding, get thee 
“ betimes unto her, and let thy foot wear the fleps of her door.” 
If what the poet fays is not a miflake, you differ from men 
in one effential point. According to him, 
u Every woman is at heart a rake” 
He did not mean furely that women are inherently more difpo- 
fed to vice than men : but you love pleafure more ; you are 
more gay and volatile ; and as you delight in pleafures which 
are more lively, and require little thought, you are more fub- 
iedt to err by the dekffions of a lively imagination : and yet, I 
will undertake to pronounce that you are not so much drawn 
aftray by corruption of will. If you are less habituated to 
reason clofely, you are more ufed to live well. Thefe are 
no paradoxes. 
But men fometimes pretend that you have no principles ; that 
you are a6tive, or paffive, in every part of life, from fear or 
ffiame, or faffiion ; from pride, or fuch low motives ; that you 
L 2 do 
