conservative, in which the building up and
developing of humanity, and not continually the inter-destruction of
part by part, will be the dominant activity of the race, that woman as
woman, and by right of that wherein she differs from the male, will have
an all-important part to play in the activity of the race.

The matter is one of curious and subtle interest, but what practically
concerns the human race is, not which of the two sexual halves which
must always coexist is best fitted to excel in certain human labours in
this or that direction, at this or that time, nor even which has most
to contribute to the sum-total of human activities; but it is this, that
every individual unit humanity contains, irrespective of race, sex, or
type, should find exactly that field of labour which may most contribute
to its development, happiness, and health, and in which its peculiar
faculties and gifts shall be most effectively and beneficially exerted
for its fellows.

It matters nothing, and less than nothing, to us as women, whether, of
those children we bring into the world, our sons should excel in virtue,
intelligence, and activity, our daughters, or our daughters our sons;
so that, in each child we bring to life, not one potentiality shall be
lost, nor squandered on a lesser when it might have been expended on a
higher and more beneficent task. So that not one desirable faculty
of the marvellous creatures we suffer to bring into existence be left
uncultivated, to us, as women, it matters nothing and less than nothing,
which sex type excels in action, in knowledge, or in virtue, so both
attain their best. There is one thing only on earth, as precious to
woman as the daughter who springs from her body--it is the son. There
is one thing only dearer to the woman than herself--it is the man. As no
sane human concerns himself as to whether the right or left ventricle
of his heart works most satisfactorily, or is most essential to his
well-being, so both be perfect in health and activity; as no sane woman
distresses herself lest her right breast should not excel the left in
beauty and use; so no sane man or woman questions anxiously over the
relative perfections of male and female. In love there is no first nor
last. What we request of life is that the tools should be given to his
hand or hers who can best handle them; that the least efficient
should not be forced into the place of the more efficient, and that
an artificially draw