Liber II, Pars I — Quod in mulieribus quaedam sunt laudabilia, quaedam vero vituperabilia. Cap. XVIII.

Liber II, Pars I — Quod in mulieribus quaedam sunt laudabilia, quaedam vero vituperabilia. Cap. XVIII.

The behavior of women is mostly similar to that of young men and boys: in a way, women seem to relate to men as boys relate to fully grown men. For according to the same philosopher in Politics. Men are more vigorous in reason than women: for a woman is like an incomplete man, and like an incomplete human being. Also, boys do not have the same reasoning power as adults: for a boy is like an incomplete human being. Therefore, in terms of perfection and the use of reason, both women and boys have a similar kind of reasoning, which leads to the conclusion that the behavior of women is somewhat childish. In the first book, where we discussed morals universally, we did not take care to create a special chapter about the morals of women: rather, we assumed it would be reasonable to consider these morals in light of those of boys. However, since this second book on governance requires a special discussion of marriage, so that we may know how wives should be governed, we need to narrate succinctly what is commendable and what is blameworthy in women. First, it is commendable in them that, for the most part, women tend to be modest. This happens for two reasons. First, from a desire for praise. Second, from a timidity of heart. Women, indeed, are very eager for praise. For in all things that are imperfect, they desire to be praised more than those who possess what is perfect. Imperfect clergy, who have an imperfect knowledge, desire more to be called knowledgeable and to have the name of excellent clergy than those who are truly knowledgeable. For those who truly know find in themselves the source of their joy; therefore, they do not care so much about appearances. But those who know imperfectly, because they do not see in themselves the knowledge from which they can rejoice, seek to have it in the opinion of others. What has been said about perfect and imperfect knowledge should also be understood in terms of complete and incomplete goodness. For those who are perfectly good do not desire to be praised or regarded as good in the same way as others do. Indeed, those who possess the perfection of goodness find in themselves the source of their joy; therefore, they do not care much about being praised by others. Thus, since women are generally not endowed with as much goodness as men, if they possess any degree of goodness—say, if they have some physical beauty or elegance—they greatly desire to be praised and commended for it. This is entirely due to the imperfection of their goodness. For bodily goods, such as elegance, beauty, and other similar things, are imperfect goods. Therefore, women generally either participate in imperfect goods, such as some bodily attributes, or if they participate in perfect goods, such as those of the mind, they do so in an imperfect manner; consequently, they commonly fall short of the perfection of men. Thus, as the desire for praise and the longing for reputation diminish with the increase of goodness, women generally desire to be praised more than men do, to the extent that they are less perfect in goodness than men. Therefore, since modesty is a fear of disgrace and of losing praise, women are generally modest because they fear being dishonored and losing the praise they desire with excessive affection. It is thus proven that women are modest due to their desire for praise. Again, this same point can be demonstrated from the timidity of the heart. For when women are naturally so timid that they are afraid of almost everything, it follows that they are modest, since modesty is a kind of fear, as was mentioned earlier. From various causes, we can prove that women are modest. Whatever the reasons may be, it is commendable for them to be modest, for due to their modesty they avoid many shameful things that they would not avoid unless they were bound by the chain of modesty. Secondly, it is commendable in women because they are generally pious and merciful. However, it does not seem to happen for the same reason: for boys (as was mentioned earlier) are merciful because their innocence leads them to believe that all others are innocent, and they think that they suffer indignantly. For this reason, they easily show compassion for others. Indeed, the elderly are compassionate, for when they themselves are failing in body and life, they wish to show mercy and share in the suffering of others. Therefore, since it is easy for anyone to lean towards doing good for others, what they wish to have done for themselves; the elderly easily show compassion for others. Women, indeed, are compassionate due to the softness of their hearts. For those who have soft hearts cannot endure anything harsh; therefore, they quickly show compassion when they see others suffering greatly. Thirdly, it must be considered in women that they often exceed in their emotions. Thus, when they are pious, they are very pious; and when they are cruel, they are very cruel; and when they are shameless, they are excessively shameless. After women gain boldness, they commit such shameful acts that hardly any men would be so shameless as to do such things. This third point is that while it can be commendable in good women, it is blameworthy in bad ones. Now, having seen what is commendable in women, we must also discuss what is blameworthy in them. We can now mention three blameworthy traits in women. First, because they are generally intemperate and driven by their passions. Second, because they tend to be talkative and litigious. Third, because they are often fickle and unstable. First, therefore, women, when they can, are generally intemperate and driven by their passions. For in them, reason is lacking; they do not have the same restraint from desires as men, who are superior in reason. Secondly, they are talkative and contentious, which happens for the same reason. For the restraint of women is generally not reason, because they commonly lack reason; rather, it is more a matter of passion, like modesty: for if they can hold themselves back from talking and arguing, they do so more out of modesty than reason. This is because when they are moved, they do not know how to moderate themselves, but without restraint, they chatter and argue. For we see that women persist more in arguing and chattering than men; because they deviate more from reason than men do. Thirdly, women are fickle and unstable, which also often happens due to the weakness of their constitution. For when the soul (as was said above) generally follows the conditions of the body: just as women have soft and unstable bodies, so they are unstable and fickle in will and desire.