Women are degraded by the propensity to enjoy the present moment, and, at last, despise the freedom which they have not sufficient virtue to struggle to attain.

In this quote, Mary Wollstonecraft critiques the way women have historically been degraded and restricted by societal norms, especially when it comes to their ability to enjoy the present moment. She suggests that women are often discouraged from fully experiencing life and its pleasures, as society imposes limitations on their freedom. Wollstonecraft implies that women are expected to live according to rigid roles, which prevents them from embracing the freedom that comes with personal agency and self-determination.

Wollstonecraft argues that, in turn, this restriction leads women to despise the freedom they have not been taught or allowed to struggle for. The statement underscores the idea that freedom is not something that can be appreciated without effort or sacrifice. Women, in her view, have not had the opportunity to pursue and fight for this freedom, which leads to a sense of dissatisfaction or even contempt for the very freedom they are denied.

The quote is rooted in Wollstonecraft’s broader philosophy found in her seminal work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman". In this text, she advocates for women’s education, rationality, and equality, challenging the conventional thinking of her time that confined women to limited roles in society. She critiques a system that deprives women of the virtue to struggle for their own freedom and, as a result, diminishes their ability to fully engage in the world around them.

Ultimately, this quote reflects Wollstonecraft’s vision of women’s liberation. She highlights how society’s oppression and the lack of freedom for women prevent them from embracing their potential and the joys of life. Wollstonecraft believed that, through education and self-realization, women could overcome these limitations and attain the freedom to live fulfilling, autonomous lives.