Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
33.
_What is the cause that the Romans in old time never went foorth out of their houses to supper, but they caried with them their yoong sonnes, even when they were but in their very infancie and childhood._ WAS not this for the very same reason that _Lycurgus_ instituted and ordeined, that yoong children should ordinarily be brought into their halles where they used to eat in publicke, called _Phiditia_, to the end that they might be inured and acquainted betimes, not to use the pleasures of eating and drinking immoderately, as brutish and ravenous beasts are wont to doe; considering that they had their elders to oversee them, yea, and to controll their demeanour: and in this regard haply also, that their fathers themselves should in their carriage be more sober, honest, and frugall, in the presence of their children: for looke where old folke are shamelesse, there it can not chuse but (as _Plato_ saith) children and youth will be most gracelesse and impudent.
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