Women Must be Treated with Utmost Respect

All Nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. That country and that nation which do not respect women have never become great, nor will ever be in future.

CW: Vol.7 Conversations and Dialogues: From the Diary of a Disciple: XVIII (p.215)

Manu, again, has said that gods bless those families where women are happy and well treated. Here men treat their women as well as can be desired, and hence they are so prosperous, so learned, so free, and so energetic. But why is it that we are slavish, miserable, and dead? The answer is obvious.

CW: Vol.5: Epistles – First Series: VI (p.26)

Do you know who is the real "Shakti - worshipper"? It is he who knows that God is the omnipresent force in the universe and sees in women the manifestation of that Force.

Ibid.

I now see it all. Brother, [(Sanskrit)]-"The gods are pleased where the women are held in esteem"- says the old Manu. We are horrible sinners, and our degradation is due to our calling women "despicable worms", "gateways to hell", and so forth. Goodness gracious! There is all the difference between heaven and hell!! [(Sanskrit)]-"He adjudges gifts according to the merits of the case" (Isha, 8). Is the Lord to be hoodwinked by idle talk? The Lord has said, [(Sanskrit)]-"Thou art the woman, Thou art the man, Thou art the boy and the girl as well" (Shvetashvatara Upa.). And we on our part are crying, [(Sanskrit)]-"Be off, thou outcast!" [(Sanskrit)]-"Who has made the bewitching woman?"

CW: Vol.6: Epistles – Second Series: XI (p.253)

The jealous guardianship of our women shows that we Hindus have declined in our national virtues, that we reverted to the "brutal state". Every man must so discipline his mind as to bring himself to regard all women as his sisters or mothers. Women must have freedom to read, to receive as good an education as men. Individual development is impossible with ignorance and slavery.

CW: Vol.9: Newspaper Reports: Indian Newspaper Report: A Bengali Sadhu (p.525-526)