Ancient Greek Wisdom on Family

 

By John Kyriazoglou

 

Man (meaning both genders, male and female) is a social animal. He has learnt from very old times to live in communities and groups with other people. His family, however, is the group that provides a safe life full of love and security. Family is very important part of our everyday life. It helps us improve our personality. It also helps us shape our life. It teaches us the value of love, affection, care, truthfulness and self-confidence and provides us tools and suggestions which are necessary to get success in life.

Family is a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you are accepted for what you are. This is where you are completely tension free and everyone is there to help you. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems. It helps you survive through tough times and brings joy and happiness into your life.

Decency and dignity are very important in the activities of daily life. They help us make strong relationships and bonds with others and make us come across as a very gentle, intelligent and likable person. We all love to be in a company of such a person. Family helps bring decency and dignity into our life which is absolutely necessary to lead a happy and balanced life.

One of the most important aims of our life is to build a successful and highly rewarding career. Our families help us in creating a strong future. It gives us valuable suggestion about different career prospective. It not only guides us in choosing the best but also financially helps us to cover the expenses of education. Thus it helps us in making a good future.

Today, most people don't realize the importance of family. They prefer to spend most of their time with their friends. But when they are surrounded by problems, it was their family that helped them get rid of problems. At the time, when even our best friends refuse to help us, it was our family that came to help us. So it is very important for each and every individual to give importance to their families above anything else and enjoy spending time with family members.

Here is an example of what noted ancient Greek poets and philosophers have said about Family and its expressions: Marriage, Wife, Children, and Parents.

 

Aeschylus: ‘Every person must honor his (or her) parents’.

 

Aristotle: ‘Family is the cell of life’.

 

Dimosthenis: ‘The person who does not take care of his (or her) parents is an enemy of both people and Gods’.

 

Euripides: ‘There are three rules to be followed by anyone who wants to be right: To love his (or her) parents, to love other human beings and to love what is just’.

 

Isocrates: ‘We should behave towards our parents the same way we would want our children to behave towards us’.

 

Plato: ‘You can teach children better by using the method of playing games rather than by force’. ‘Correct education is one therapeutic way for our soul’.

 

Plutarch: ‘There are three bases that contribute to a child’s good upbringing: Nature, education and exercise’. 

 

Socrates: ‘Education comprises the festive activities of the soul, as it includes many games, events and activities that support and improve our souls’.

 

Sophocles: ‘A bad woman is the worst thing that can happen to a man, and the best gift will be a sensible woman that will come his way’.

                

In conclusion: It is very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone, to live happily, survive and prosper without the support and long-term bonds of a family. Also parents are considered to be the most valuable thing for all human beings. For this exact reason we have an obligation to always respect, honor, support and love them. Finally it is also our divine duty and moral (and legal) responsibility to also support, love, care, educate, train and provide for our children, to the best of our abilities, for the very simple reason that we brought them to this world.