Virtue can only flourish among equals.

The line asserts that moral excellence is not merely a private trait but depends on social relations. Where one group is subordinated to another—through political domination, economic dependence, or gender hierarchy—people are pushed into servility, manipulation, or arbitrary power rather than genuine moral agency. “Equals” here implies reciprocal respect and shared standing: only when individuals can act without coercion or dependency can they practice virtues like honesty, justice, and courage in a stable way. Read in Wollstonecraft’s framework, the claim supports her broader argument that inequality corrupts both rulers and the ruled, and that reform toward equal rights is a precondition for authentic virtue.