Instead of wishing to see more doctors made by women joining what there are, I wish to see as few doctors, either male or female, as possible. For, mark you, the women have made no improvement - they have only tried to be men and they have only succeeded in being third-rate men.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Nightingale criticizes early female doctors, claiming they merely imitated men without improving medicine or achieving excellence.
- In plain terms
- Early female doctors tried to be men instead of improving medicine.
- What can you take from it?
- Women should improve professions rather than imitate men.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should women improve their profession or copy men?
- What makes a great doctor?
Another view
It dismisses women's entry into medicine as failure.
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