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1 " Draw near, woman, and hear what I have to say. Turnyour curiosity for once towards useful objects, and considerthe advantages which nature gave you and societyravished away. Come and learn how you were born thecompanion of man and became his slave; how you grewto like the condition and think it natural; and finally howthe long habituation of slavery so degraded you that youpreferred its sapping but convenient vices to the moredifficult virtues of freedom and repute. If the picture Ishall paint leaves you in command of yourselves, if youcan contemplate it without emotion, then go back to yourfutile pastimes; ‘there is no remedy; the vices havebecome the custom. "
― Pierre Choderlos de Laclos , De l'éducation des femmes
