If women will not accept marriage with subjection, nor men proffer it without, there is, there can be, no alternative. The women who will not be ruled must live without marriage. And during this transition period... single women make comfortable and attractive homes for themselves.

Susan B. Anthony’s quote, “If women will not accept marriage with subjection, nor men proffer it without, there is, there can be, no alternative. The women who will not be ruled must live without marriage. And during this transition period... single women make comfortable and attractive homes for themselves,” speaks to the limitations imposed on women in the context of marriage during her time. Anthony, a leading figure in the women’s suffrage and feminist movements, critiques the traditional expectation that women should submit to their husbands' authority within marriage.

The quote underscores the tension between marriage as it was traditionally structured—where women were often expected to be subservient—and the growing call for equality and independence for women. Anthony challenges the idea that women must marry in order to find fulfillment or security, suggesting that a life without marriage is a viable alternative for those who reject a system of subjection. In doing so, she affirms the power and autonomy of single women, recognizing their ability to create meaningful, self-sufficient lives outside of the constraints of marriage.

Anthony’s statement also reflects the broader context of her work, which aimed to dismantle the societal norms that limited women's roles to the domestic sphere. At the time, marriage was often seen as the primary institution for women, and Anthony's advocacy for women's rights emphasized that women should have the option to choose whether to marry or not, without being penalized or stigmatized. The idea that single women could create fulfilling lives and "make comfortable and attractive homes for themselves" was a radical one for her era, suggesting a vision of independence and self-reliance.

Ultimately, Anthony’s quote challenges the societal structures that constrained women’s choices and reinforces the notion that women should not be bound by the expectation of marriage as an institution that demands subjection. Instead, she advocates for women to have the freedom to live fulfilling lives, whether within the institution of marriage or outside of it, and underscores the importance of self-determination and autonomy in the pursuit of happiness.