How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Alas, God, why did You not let me be born in the world as a man, so that all my inclinations would be to serve You better, and so that I would not stray in anything and would be as perfect as a man is said to be? (1.1.2)
Toward the beginning of this book, Christine de Pizan has so much despair about being a woman that she wishes she were a man so she could serve God better. Luckily though, a visit from the three magical sisters shows her that she can serve God just as well as a woman.
Quote #2
No, it was the noblest substance which had ever been created: it was from the body of man from which God made woman. (1.9.2)
Whenever men try to say that God hates women, Christine de Pizan replies that if God hated women, why did he make women out of men? Here, she's referring to the Bible story about how Eve was made from the rib of Adam.
Quote #3
[Ovid] was castrated and disfigured because of his faults. (1.9.2)
There was once a famous Roman poet named Ovid who was so sexually promiscuous that the Roman government had to banish him from their country. But then the dude came back and started sleeping with women again, so they castrated him. After that, it became kind of hard for him to have sex.
Quote #4
"My lady, men have burdened me with a heavy charge taken from a Latin proverb, which runs, "God made women to speak, weep, and sew," which they use to attack women." (1.10.3)
Men have made up all kinds of sayings over the years to disparage women in general. But one by one, Christine de Pizan's magical ladies tear these arguments down and show that the opposite it actually the case.
Quote #5
I will abandon feminine fear and arm my heart with a man's boldness in order to increase your courage and that of the soldiers in the army, out of pity for your young prince. (1.23.1)
Even though she's defending women Queen Fredegund wants to take on "masculine" characteristics (like boldness) for the sake of protecting her son. So even though de Pizan defends women here, she still thinks that certain qualities are manlier than others.
Quote #6
[You] will never find such perversion in women as you encounter in a great number of men. (2.49.5)
On some occasions, Christine de Pizan gets so fed up with the accusations against women that she actually goes after men. She usually pulls back after saying things like this though, because she doesn't want to get into trouble or alienate too many of her male readers.
Quote #7
This father loved his daughter with such devotion that he could not live unless he saw her, and only with the greatest reluctance and under great pressure did he consent to have her married. (2.59.1)
Some men are so possessive that they don't want their daughters to get married. These men just want their daughters all to themselves. Unfortunately for them, the social norm is for young women to get married, and these dudes usually have to consent (reluctantly) to let their daughters leave them. A more modern dad, though, would probably leave this sort of decision to his daughter. Like this guy.
Quote #8
But when the brothers finally found out, considering it to be a great shame, and even though they wanted to avoid making a large outcry over it, they decided to kill the young man. (2.60.1)
Some men are so protective of their sisters they'll kill any dude who comes near them. And that's exactly what happens in this case, though you have to wonder how it's the brothers' business who their sister dates.
Quote #9
And you, virgin maidens, be pure, simple, and serene, without vagueness, for the snares of evil men are set for you. (3.19.4)
Christine de Pizan warns her female readers about all of the men who'll use every dirty trick in the book to try and sleep with them. This warning flies right in the face of men who say that women are the ones who are always after sex.
Quote #10
Remember, dear ladies, how these men call you frail, unserious, and easily influenced but yet try hard, using all kinds of strange and deceptive tricks, to catch you, just as one lays traps for wild animals. (3.19.6)
Men treat women like wild animals to be trapped. But women who are careful and rational can see right through these tricks and keep these men away. Notice how de Pizan is constantly casting men as predators and women as prey.