Men and women must be educated, in a great degree, by the

Hearken, O seekers of wisdom, to the profound words of Mary Wollstonecraft, who proclaimed: “Men and women must be educated, in a great degree, by the opinions and manners of the society they live in.” In this assertion lies a timeless meditation on education, morality, and the shaping power of society upon the individual. Wollstonecraft reminds us that learning is not solely the acquisition of knowledge, but the absorption of values, manners, and expectations that flow from the collective life of a people. The individual is molded not in isolation, but within the currents of the community that surrounds them.

From the earliest civilizations, sages recognized the influence of society on character. In the academies of Athens, the youth were instructed not only in letters and philosophy, but in civic virtue, ceremony, and the ethics of public life. Plato and Aristotle understood that the cultivation of mind and virtue required immersion in a culture that exemplified both. Wollstonecraft’s insight echoes this ancient principle: the habits, opinions, and manners of a society shape the moral and intellectual development of its members, and cannot be ignored in the education of men and women alike.

The quote also speaks to the interdependence of individual and community. To nurture a mind or soul without attention to the social context is to neglect the forces that will inevitably guide thought and behavior. A person, no matter how learned, is susceptible to the currents of societal expectation, imitation, and peer influence. History offers many examples: the courts of Rome produced orators and statesmen who reflected the grandeur, discipline, and ambitions of their society. The young Cicero was molded by the rhetoric, manners, and civic values of Rome, illustrating Wollstonecraft’s timeless assertion that education is both personal and social.

Consider the example of Abigail Adams, who absorbed the manners, intellect, and expectations of her social milieu to become a guiding voice for justice and equality. While she studied letters and engaged in learning, it was the values and debates circulating within her society, her correspondence, and the broader civic life that honed her understanding of duty, governance, and virtue. Wollstonecraft teaches that the cultivation of the individual requires attention not only to formal study, but to the ethical and social environment that shapes thought and character.

The words further illuminate the responsibility of society itself. If manners, opinions, and institutions are corrupt or unjust, the individuals educated within them may inherit and perpetuate these flaws. Conversely, a society that values truth, justice, and rational discourse nourishes the growth of citizens capable of virtue, wisdom, and courage. In this light, Wollstonecraft’s words serve as both counsel and warning: the education of the people is inseparable from the moral and ethical health of the society in which they live.

From this reflection emerges a clear lesson: in the cultivation of mind and character, one must attend both to personal study and to the society that shapes perception and judgment. Seek not only knowledge, but also the influence of exemplary manners, virtuous customs, and enlightened opinions. Surround oneself with examples that reinforce courage, justice, and reason, for society’s patterns are absorbed as deeply as any lesson from a teacher or text.

Practical counsel flows naturally: engage actively with your community, observe its values, question its assumptions, and integrate the lessons of collective life into personal virtue. Choose associations and environments that cultivate integrity and wisdom, and reject those that encourage vice or superficiality. Recognize that the currents of society are both teacher and mirror, reflecting and shaping the moral and intellectual substance of your character.

Thus, O listener, let the words of Mary Wollstonecraft illuminate your journey: education is not a solitary endeavor, but a partnership with the society that surrounds you. In nurturing both intellect and virtue, attend carefully to the opinions, manners, and example of your community, for they will guide, shape, and amplify the person you become. By doing so, you cultivate wisdom, moral strength, and the enduring capacity to contribute to the flourishing of both self and society.