strong-mindedness

We later-day mortals go in for everything that bespeaks strength and backbone and a certain amount of strong-mindedness.

The Woman Beautiful or, The Art of Beauty Culture Helen Follett Stevans

Of course, had it not been for my old strong-mindedness (which has nothing to do with obstinacy, and is in no way related to it -- the best term I can think of to express it being "judicious decisiveness"), I should have given up the scheme a score of times in as many days; so regularly did each successive day give birth to a fresh set of rebuffs and disappointments.

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands Mary Seacole

An outstanding teacher, she impressed students by the clarity of her thought, by the breadth of her experience, by her compassion for the underprivileged, by her strong-mindedness, and by her insistence that students could formulate independent judgments only if they combined on-the-spot investigation with their research in the library.

Emily Greene Balch - Biography 1946

She did what you might not expect Jean to do, after all her strong-mindedness and her independence: She made an uncertain movement toward sitting up and facing things calmly, man-fashion; then she leaned and dropped her very independent brown head back upon Lite's shoulder, and behind her handkerchief she cried quietly while Lite held her close.

Jean of the Lazy A 1915

Jean to do, after all her strong-mindedness and her independence: She made an uncertain movement toward sitting up and facing things calmly, man-fashion; then she leaned and dropped her very independent brown head back upon Lite's shoulder, and behind her handkerchief she cried quietly while Lite held her close.

Jean of the Lazy A B. M. Bower 1905

I had always regarded crying as an evidence of weakness and when quite a girl determined that no one should ever doubt my strong-mindedness; so, on going to the supper-table, my appearance would be freshened up and my face wreathed with the blandest of smiles.

A slaveholder's daughter, 1900

The surest evidence of strong-mindedness in woman is to fly in the fact of fashion.

Hints for Lovers 1899

He hasn't gone back to his room to sleep, even when I have Jane's strong-mindedness in the house with me.

The Tinder-Box Maria Thompson Daviess 1898

They suspected strong-mindedness and "reform" -- perhaps even politics and a tendency to advance irregular notions concerning the ballot.

That Lass O' Lowrie's 1877 Frances Hodgson Burnett 1886

I used to laugh at these practices, but found them beautiful withal; how much more amiable than strong-mindedness (which has needed only deduction of fine qualities) in regard to such things!

Letters and Memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle 1883