“ Strong-minded women who have never worn a pair of stays, and gentlemen blinded by hastily-formed prejudice,alike anathematise an article of dress of the good qualities of which they are utterly ignorant, and which consequently they cannot appreciate.On a subject of so much importance as regards comfort (to say nothing of the question of elegance, scarcely less important on a point of feminine costume), no amount of theory will ever weigh very heavily when opposed to practical experience.”

From The corset and the crinoline : a book of modes and costumes from remote periods to the present time by Lord, William Barry, 1868

(Disclaimer: the historical accuracy of the book is, let's say, peculiar :D )

edit: I forgot the link to the book: archive.org/details/corsetcrin…