Two women forged a bond of friendship that lasted 50 years. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was married to Henry Brewster Stanton (47 years) and Susan B. Anthony was never married. In 1869, these women founded the National Women’s Suffrage Association. They worked for a constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote. All other reforms would hinge on this primary objective.

Stanton and Anthony were emotionally mature women. They could give constructive criticisms of each other in private and make known their opinions without damaging their friendship. In public, they chose to concentrate on a unified front which they shared.

One of Anthony’s arguably most famous quotes: “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” Even though Anthony was never completely comfortable with public speaking, she was willing to travel the United States for over 45 years to make 75-100 speeches per year in support of the women’s suffrage movement and other important matters. Passion overcame the fear; wisdom resonated with the crowds of people.

Anthony was not against marriage; she was for equality. She agreed with her friend, Lucretia Mott who said it well: “In a true marriage relation, the independence of the husband and wife is equal, their dependence mutual and their obligation reciprocal.”

Stanton described how they complemented each other in their labors: “In writing we did better work than either could alone…I am the better writer, she is the better critic. She supplies the facts and statistics, I the philosophy and rhetoric…Our speeches may be considered the united product of two brains.” Stanton’s husband said: “Susan stirred the puddings, Elizabeth stirred up Susan, and then, Susan stirs up the world!”

Both women were self-confident which gave them the bravery to follow their purposes in life. To speak out against injustices in the mid- late 1800’s was heroic and anytime for that matter. I believe that divine guidance is always the undercurrent of such inspiring motivations.  May we remember Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony and the multitude of other women who stand up for what is right.