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About this quote

What does it mean?
Women preaching is compared to a dog walking on hind legs: unexpected and poorly executed.
In plain terms
Women preaching is surprising but done poorly, like a dog on hind legs.
What can you take from it?
Unexpected roles may be performed poorly.

Where it applies

  • evaluating public speaking
  • critiquing gender norms
  • assessing unusual acts

Putting it to work

  • questioning traditional roles
  • assessing competence

Questions to consider

  • What counts as appropriate speech?
  • Does gender affect competence?

Another view

It relies on outdated gender stereotypes.

More from Samuel Johnson

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  3. I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old gentleman said to me, 'Young man, ply your book diligently now, and acquire a stock of knowledge; for when y…

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