Chapter 9 Volume 2 Chapter 2

Dialogue between Socrates and his son, Rump Locke, who expressed his displeasure with his mother, about the duty of children to their parents.The ungrateful are to be considered unjust, v. 1,2.The more a man is favored by others, the more unrighteous he is if he is ungrateful; no man is better off than a child is from his parents, v. 3-6.Children, therefore, should honor their mother, though she is severe, knowing that her severity is motivated by love, v. 7-12.How great is the sin of failing to be sons, is seen from the penalty of the law, and the curse of mankind upon the unfilial, v. 13-14.

One day Socrates heard his eldest son, Lump Locke, lose his temper with his mother.And he said to him, "My son, tell me, do you know some people who are called ungrateful?" "Of course," the young man replied. "You know what they did to get this notoriety?" "I know," replied Rump Lockleigh, "that the name ungrateful is given to those who do not repay the favor which they themselves are in a position to repay." "Then you think that the ungrateful are unjust?" "Yes, I thought so," replied Rump Lockleigh. "Have you considered, then, that since it is considered unrighteous to enslave a friend and righteous to enslave an enemy, is it not unjust to be ungrateful to a friend and just to be ungrateful to an enemy?"

"I have indeed considered it, and I think it is always unrighteous to receive favors from others, whether it is from friends or from enemies, without showing gratitude." "In this case, don't we have to take Is ingratitude considered an out-and-out, absolute injustice?" Rump Locklear agrees. "In this way, the greater the benefit received, the greater the injustice of ungrateful repayment?" Rump Lockleigh again agreed. "Who do we see," asked Socrates, "receive more favors from others than children do from their parents? Parents bring their children into being from nothing, and make them see so much." Good things, to share in so many blessings bestowed by the gods; these blessings are so precious to us, and we would not give up these blessings under any circumstances. The reason why the state imposes the death penalty for this greatest sin, It is because they believe that such heavy punishments are not enough to prevent this injustice. Of course, you would not think that people have children only for the satisfaction of lust, because there are many whorehouses for lust in the streets and lanes; The consideration is obviously, what kind of women will give us the best children, and we marry them and have children. The husband maintains his wife, and provides as much as possible for the children to be born. The wife is conceived, endures the pain of pregnancy, distributes her nutrition to the fetus regardless of the danger of life, and finally feeds and takes care of him after the pregnancy is full-term and gives birth, although she has not received any benefits in advance; but the baby She doesn't know who is raising him, and she won't express her needs to her. It's just that the mother guesses what is good for the baby's nutrition and what he likes, tries to meet his requirements, and raises him for a long time. , enduring the fatigue of days and nights, not knowing what rewards he will get.

"Parents are not content merely to bring up their children, but to teach them what they know will be useful in their children's life, at the very first moment when they are able to learn; if they know anyone who can better teach them than themselves They don't hesitate to spend money to send their children to them for education, and they always try their best to give their children the best education." To these words the boy replied, "Though she has done all this and much more, none can stand her bad temper." "Do you think," asked Socrates, "which is more unbearable, the ferocity of the wild beast or the mother's bad temper?"

"I thought it was the mother's bad temper that was harder to bear," replied Rump Lockleigh, "At least my mother did." "Well, many people have been bitten or kicked by wild animals. Has your mother bit or kicked you in the same way?" "I swear by the god Zeus, no," replied Lamp-Lockley, "but what she said was something no one would listen to anyway." "Think about it, since you were a very small child, day and night, how many times have you said and contradicted her to make her feel sad? When you were sick, you gave her How much pain did it cause?"

"But I never said or did anything that shamed her." "Do you think," asked Socrates, "that it hurts you more to hear what your mother says than to hear tragedies scolding each other in a play?" "But I think it's easy for the actors to put up with the name-calling because they don't think that the person who said the bad words was really insulting them, or that the person who said the threatening words was really trying to intimidate them." "Then, since you know perfectly well that your mother speaks to you with no malice; on the contrary, she wishes you to be happier than anyone else, why should you be troubled? Do you think your mother has any malice towards you? "

"No," replied Rump Lockleigh, "I don't think so." Socrates asked: "Your mother treats you so kindly, and tries her best to take care of you when you are sick, so that you can recover and make you have everything you need. In addition, she also asks God for you. Pray for blessings, and fulfill your wish, and you still say that such a mother is a strict mother? In my opinion, if such a mother still makes you unable to bear it, then you cannot bear any good things.” "Tell me," continued Socrates, "is there anyone else whom you feel you should respect? Or are you determined not to please anyone, neither a general nor any other chief? What about obedience?"

"Of course not," replied Rump Lockleigh. "Would you then please your neighbor to like you, to light a fire for you in your time of need, to help you in good deeds, to help you in case of accident?" "Yes, I would," replied Rumple Lockleigh. "When you travel with a man by land or sea, or meet anyone at random, do you think it doesn't matter whether the man you meet is friend or foe? Or do you think you should seek What about their kindness?" "I thought I should ask their kindness." "You would like to ask the kindness of these people, but you think you should not respect your mother who loves you more than anyone else? Don't you know that the state pays no attention to other forms of ingratitude, neither prosecutes them, It doesn't matter whether a person is grateful for the favor he receives from others, but those who disrespect their parents will be severely punished and not allowed to assume the responsibility of leadership, because it is believed that such a person cannot be devout to sacrifice for the country, Nor will he honorably and impartially perform his other responsibilities. Not only that, but if anyone does not properly repair the grave of his dead parents, when he is a candidate for public office, the country will investigate this matter. So My son, if you are wise, you should ask the gods to forgive you for disrespecting your mother in the past, lest the gods will treat you as an ungrateful person and refuse to favor you. You should also value other people's opinions, Lest they see you do not do your duty as a child, and everyone condemns you, and you are friendless; for when people see you being ungrateful to your parents, they will think thus: If they do you kindness, You will never get an answer."