The outsider will say, 'in fact, as a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.' And if, when reason has said its say, still some obstinate emotion remains, some love of England dropped into a child's ears by the cawing of rooks in an elm tree, by the splash of waves on a beach, or by English voices murmuring nursery rhymes, this drop of pure, if irrational, emotion she will make serve her to give to England first what she desires of peace and freedom for the whole world.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Woolf argues that women should view the world as their country but use deep emotional ties to their homeland to fight for global peace and freedom.
- In plain terms
- Women belong to the whole world but can use love for their home to help everyone.
- What can you take from it?
- Use local love to fuel global progress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your country?
- How does emotion guide action?
Another view
The view that women have no country is a specific historical argument that may not apply universally.
More from Virginia Woolf
Directly the mulberry tree begins to make you circle, break off. Pelt the tree with laughter.
Permalink to quote #32 The artist after all is a solitary being.
Permalink to quote #34 Though we see the same world, we see it through different eyes. Any help we can give you must be different from that you can give yourselves, and perhaps the v…
Permalink to quote #31
Related quotes
Moscow... how many strains are fusing in that one sound, for Russian hearts! what store of riches it imparts!
Aleksandr PushkinAleksandr Pushkin quote #16 All my life I have had a certain idea of France.
Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle quote #1 I am ashamed of my nation.
Ahmed DjemalAhmed Djemal quote #1