Plutarch, De liberis educandis, Frank Cole Babbitt (Translator), 19

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[19] An effort should be made to yoke in marriage those who cannot resist their desires, and who are deaf to admonitions. For marriage is the most secure bond for youth. One should, however, betroth to his sons women who are not greatly above them either in birth or wealth. The maxim Keep to your own place¹ is wise, since those who take to wife women far above themselves unwittingly become not the husbands of their wives, but the slaves of their wives’ dowries.

De liberis educandis. Plutarch. Frank Cole Babbitt (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1927.

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Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

The Education of Children (English) (Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. I. Babbitt, Frank Cole, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1927 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Περὶ παίδων ἀγωγῆς Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol I. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1888.) — 19 focus

[19] πειρατέον δὲ τοὺς τῶν ἡδονῶν ἥττους καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐπιτιμήσεις δυσηκόους γάμῳ καταζεῦξαι, δεσμὸς γὰρ οὗτος τῆς νεότητος ἀσφαλέστατος. ἐγγυᾶσθαι 10 δὲ δεῖ τοῖς υἱέσι γυναῖκας μήτʼ εὐγενεστέρας πολλῷ μήτε πλουσιωτέρας· τὸ γὰρ τὴν κατὰ σαυτὸν ἔλα σοφόν. ὡς οἵ γε μακρῷ κρείττους ἑαυτῶν λαμβάνοντες οὐ τῶν γυναικῶν ἄνδρες, τῶν δὲ 14a προικῶν δοῦλοι λανθάνουσι γιγνόμενοι.

Translations (1)

A Discourse Touching the Training of Children Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarch's morals, Vol. I. Goodwin, William W., editor; Ford, Simon, translator. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1874.) — 19 focus

[19] Besides, for those who are intemperate in their youthful lusts, and will not be amended by reproof, it is good to provide wives; for marriage is the strongest bond to hamper wild youth withal. But we must take care that the wives we procure for them be neither of too noble a birth nor of too great a portion to suit their circumstances; for it is a wise saying, drive on your own track.¹ Whereas men that marry women very much superior to themselves are not so truly husbands to their wives, as they are unawares made slaves to their portions.

Notes on the current edition

The Education of Children

1. The figure is said to be derived from the laguage of boys whipping tops. It is attributed to Pittachus by Diogenes Laertius, i. 4. 8; cf. The Palatine Anthology, vii. 89 (in L.C.L. The Greek Anthology, vol. ii. p. 63). A similar expression (from the race-track) may be found in Aristophanes, Clouds, 25.

Plutarch De liberis educandis 19

Frank Cole Babbitt (Translator)

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