Daring to think that the rules do not apply is the mark of a visionary. It's also a symptom of narcissism.
-- Narrator (Ariel Levy) (chapter 1 paragraph 22)

Importance: This quote summarizes the message Ariel got from her mother and from feminism in general. Ariel is from a generation of women who were told that they do not need to follow the rules that had been laid out in the past. Ariel believes that she can surpass the rules that previous generations of women have been forced to follow. This quote demonstrates that believing the rules do not apply to her generation is both to her benefit and detriment. Ariel has the vision to pursue a lifestyle as an independent woman, to enter into an unconventional marriage, and to postpone motherhood, all of which throw the traditional "rules" of womanhood out the window. However, as the narrator, Ariel now recognizes that this belief is also entitled and self-centered...