Parents ought not to be injured either in word or deed; but it is
requisite to be obedient to them, whether their rank in life is
small or great. And in every allotted condition of soul and body,
and of external circumstances, in peace, also, and war, in health
[and sickness[30]], in riches and in poverty, in renown and ignominy,
and whether they are of the same class with most of the community,
or are magistrates, it is necessary to be present with, and never
to forsake them, and almost to submit to them even when they are
insane. For such conduct will be wisely and cheerfully adopted by
those that are pious. But he who despises his parents will, both
among the living and the dead, be condemned for this crime by the
Gods, will be hated by men, and under the earth will, together with
the impious, be eternally[31] punished in the same place by Justice,
and the subterranean Gods, whose province it is to inspect things of
this kind. For the aspect of parents is a thing divine and beautiful,
and a diligent observance of them is attended with a delight such
as neither the survey of the sun, nor of all the stars which dance
round the illuminated heavens, is capable of producing, nor any other
spectacle, should it even be greater than this. And, it appears to
me, that the Gods are not envious[32] when they perceive that this
takes place. Hence it is requisite to reverence parents both while
they are living, and when they are dead, and never oppose them in
any thing they may say or do. If also they are ignorant of any thing
through deception or disease, their children should console and
instruct, but by no means hate them on this account. For no greater
error and injustice can be committed by men than to act impiously
towards their parents.
ON THE REVERENCE DUE TO PARENTS. FROM THE APOPHTHEGMS OF ARISTOXENUS,
THE TARENTINE.
After divinity and demons, the greatest attention should be paid to
parents and the laws; not fictitiously, but in reality preparing
ourselves to an observance of, and perseverance in, the manners and
laws of our country, though they should be in a small degree worse
than those of other countries.