Among other possibilities, money was invented to make it possible for a foolish man to control wise men; a weak man, strong men; a child, old men; an ignorant man, knowledgeable men; and for a dwarf to control giants.

~ Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Mokokoma Mokhonoana Adage Adages Africa African Aphorism Aphorisms Authority Axiom Axioms Bondage Child Children Control Controlling Cultivated Cultured Deep Deep Pockets Dictum Dictums Dominance Dominate Domination Dominion Dwarf Dwarfs Economies Economy Educated Education Employed Employment Enlightened Enslavement Epigram Epigrams Erudite Fool Foolish Fools Freedom Funny Giant Giants Gnome Gnomes Humor Humorous Humour Ignoramus Ignorant Impossibilities Impossible Influence Informed Insightful Intelligent Invent Invented Invention Job Jobs Kid Kids Knowledge Knowledgeable Made Me Think Make You Think Master Masters Mastery Maxim Maxims Midget Midgets Money Monied Monies Old Philosopher Poor Possibilities Possibility Possible Poverty Power Profound Proverb Proverbs Provoke Thought Quotation Quotations Quote Quote Of The Day Quotes Rich Riches Satire Satirical Satirist Satirists Saying Sayings Scholarly Serfdom Servitude Slave Master Slave Masters Slavery South Africa South African Strong Thought Provoking Thoughtful Thrall Thralldom Vassalage Weak Weakness Wealth Wealthy Well Educated Well Informed Well Read Wisdom Wise Work Working Young

Many if not most slaves would have each readily jumped, and many if not most slaves would each readily jump, at the opportunity to be a master, if such an opportunity presents or had presented itself.

~ Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Mokokoma Mokhonoana Adage Adages Africa African Aphorism Aphorisms Authority Axiom Axioms Bondage Control Deep Dictum Dictums Dominance Dominate Domination Dominion Enslavement Epigram Epigrams Freedom Funny Gnome Gnomes Hesitate Hesitation Humor Humorous Humour Influence Insightful Made Me Think Make You Think Master Masters Mastery Maxim Maxims Opportunities Opportunity Philosopher Power Profound Proverb Proverbs Provoke Thought Quotation Quotations Quote Quote Of The Day Quotes Readily Satire Satirical Satirist Satirists Saying Sayings Serfdom Servitude Slave Slave Master Slave Masters Slavery Slaves South Africa South African Thought Provoking Thoughtful Thrall Thralldom Vassalage

It was pitiful for a person born in a wholesome free atmosphere to listen to their humble and hearty outpourings of loyalty toward their king and Church and nobility; as if they had any more occasion to love and honor king and Church and noble than a slave has to love and honor the lash, or a dog has to love and honor the stranger that kicks him! Why, dear me, ANY kind of royalty, howsoever modified, ANY kind of aristocracy, howsoever pruned, is rightly an insult; but if you are born and brought up under that sort of arrangement you probably never find it out for yourself, and don't believe it when somebody else tells you. It is enough to make a body ashamed of his race to think of the sort of froth that has always occupied its thrones without shadow of right or reason, and the seventh-rate people that have always figured as its aristocracies -- a company of monarchs and nobles who, as a rule, would have achieved only poverty and obscurity if left, like their betters, to their own exertions... The truth was, the nation as a body was in the world for one object, and one only: to grovel before king and Church and noble; to slave for them, sweat blood for them, starve that they might be fed, work that they might play, drink misery to the dregs that they might be happy, go naked that they might wear silks and jewels, pay taxes that they might be spared from paying them, be familiar all their lives with the degrading language and postures of adulation that they might walk in pride and think themselves the gods of this world. And for all this, the thanks they got were cuffs and contempt; and so poor-spirited were they that they took even this sort of attention as an honor.

~ Mark Twain

Mark Twain Aristocracy Government Monarchy Religion Serfdom Slavery

In this martial world dominated by men, women had little place. The Church's teachings might underpin feudal morality, yet when it came to the practicalities of life, a ruthless pragmatism often came into play. Kings and noblemen married for political advantage, and women rarely had any say in how they or their wealth were to be disposed in marriage. Kings would sell off heiresses and rich widows to the highest bidder, for political or territorial advantage, and those who resisted were heavily fined.Young girls of good birth were strictly reared, often in convents, and married off at fourteen or even earlier to suit their parents' or overlord's purposes. The betrothal of infants was not uncommon, despite the church's disapproval. It was a father's duty to bestow his daughters in marriage; if he was dead, his overlord or the King himself would act for him. Personal choice was rarely and issue.Upon marriage, a girl's property and rights became invested in her husband, to whom she owed absolute obedience. Every husband had the right to enforce this duty in whichever way he thought fit--as Eleanor was to find out to her cost. Wife-beating was common, although the Church did at this time attempt to restrict the length of the rod that a husband might use.

~ Alison Weir

Alison Weir Abuse Eleanor Of Aquitaine Feminism History Life Marriage Medieval Medieval History Oppression Politics Royalty Serfdom Slavery

Men’s economic privilege, their social value, the prestige of marriage, the usefulness of masculine support—all these encourage women to ardently want to please men. They are on the whole still in a state of serfdom. It follows that woman knows and chooses herself not as she exists for herself but as man defines her. She thus has to be described first as men dream of her since her being-for-men is one of the essential factors of her concrete condition.

~ Simone De Beauvoir

Simone De Beauvoir Inferiority Marriage Men Men Dream Prestige Privilege Relationships Serfdom Women

-I got the conch! --Piggy (in Lord of the Flies), attempting Democracy

~ William Golding

William Golding Conch Democracy Feudalism Piggy Serfdom Vox Populi