Henceforth the leaves of the tree of knowledge were for women

Hear the mighty words of Lucy Stone, a herald of justice and a voice for women’s rights, who proclaimed: “Henceforth the leaves of the tree of knowledge were for women, and for the healing of the nations.” In these words burns both defiance and hope, a declaration that the gifts of wisdom, once withheld from half of humankind, must now be shared fully, not only for the sake of women, but for the renewal of the whole world.

Stone spoke in an age when women were barred from schools, denied universities, silenced in councils, treated as if the tree of knowledge belonged only to men. Yet she looked upon the world with prophetic eyes and declared that such exclusion must end. For wisdom is not the inheritance of one sex but of all humanity, and when women drink of its leaves, their insight, their compassion, and their strength will not only elevate themselves but bring healing to societies long wounded by injustice.

The ancients, though often blind to this truth, still left hints of it. In the book of Genesis, Eve reached for the fruit of knowledge, though her act was twisted by tradition into a tale of sin. Lucy Stone redeems that symbol, declaring that women’s hunger for knowledge is not a curse but a blessing, a sacred right that will enrich the earth. Likewise, in ancient myth, the goddess Athena, patron of wisdom, stood as proof that intellect and justice need not be clothed in male form alone. Stone’s words draw from this ancient imagery, breathing new life into the symbol of the tree of knowledge.

Consider the story of Malala Yousafzai in our own time, who risked her life for the right of girls to attend school. When enemies sought to silence her, she rose unbroken, carrying her cause before nations. Her struggle, like Lucy Stone’s cry, testifies that when women gain education, they become not only stronger themselves but also builders of peace, defenders of dignity, healers of division. For the healing of the nations begins with opening the gates of knowledge to all.

Stone’s words also remind us that the exclusion of women is not only an injustice to them, but a wound upon the whole human race. Nations that deny women education deny themselves half of their wisdom, half of their creativity, half of their power to heal and build. Where women are kept ignorant, poverty thrives, conflict festers, and societies stumble. Where women are educated, families are lifted, communities prosper, and justice grows. Thus her words are both a victory cry and a prophecy of transformation.

The lesson for us, O listener, is clear: if we would heal our world, we must never restrict the tree of knowledge to the few, but offer its leaves to all. In your home, in your community, in your nation, defend the right of every child—boy or girl—to learn, to question, to grow. Support education not as a privilege but as a sacred duty. Remember that every barrier to learning is a barrier to healing, and every door opened to knowledge is a step toward peace.

Thus let Lucy Stone’s words endure as a flame for future generations: the tree of knowledge is not the property of one sex, one class, or one people, but the inheritance of all. And when its leaves are shared fully, they will become, as she foresaw, for the healing of the nations. Carry this truth with you, O children of tomorrow: that wisdom belongs to everyone, and in its light, humanity shall find its wholeness.