Self-forgetfulness, the prerequisite of great achievement, requires prior self-assurance women lack.

Evidence

To do great things, today’s woman needs above all forgetfulness of self: but to forget oneself one must first be solidly sure that one has already found oneself. Newly arrived in the world of men, barely supported by them, the woman is still much too busy looking for herself. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1939

Categorization

• APHORISMS: A genuinely timeless wisdom claim: to forget oneself one must first be confident one has found oneself — a paradox worth returning to.
• XREF: connects to: Lack of self-assurance prevents the self-forgetfulness needed for genuine transcendence. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1939; Women lack the practice of sovereign solitude needed for creative transcendence. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1948; Women’s lack of creative genius stems from situation, not essence — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1952 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Women lack the practice of sovereign solitude needed for creative transcendence. #corroborates (0.92) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1948
• Women’s lack of creative genius stems from situation, not essence #qualifies (0.85) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1952
• Women’s historical absence of genius follows from denied opportunity #expands (0.82) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1952