“We must not be afraid of all the jokes that will be made about the changes we envision.  Such things have been ridiculed in the past until they were found in practice to be better.  Then the spectacle ceased to be looked on as ridiculous because reasonable argument had shown that it was best.  This showed that it is foolish to think anything ridiculous except what is bad, or to try to raise a laugh at any other spectacle than that of ignorance and evil as being ridiculous.”

– Plato, Republic (452 b-e), considering the proposal that all functions in the republic be open to women as well as men