The Mind Creative FEB 2014
OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN
The joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears.
They cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other.
Children sweeten labors; but they make misfortunes more bitter.
They increase the cares of life; but they mitigate the
remembrance of death. The perpetuity by generation is common
to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to
men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and
foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have
sought to express the images of their minds, where those of their
bodies have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them, that
have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses,
are most indulgent towards their children; beholding them as the
continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work; and so both
children and creatures.
The difference in affection, of parents towards their several
children, is many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy;
especially in the mothers; as Solomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth
the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother. A man shall
see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the
eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons; but in the
midst, some that are as it were forgotten, who many times,
nevertheless, prove the best.
The illiberality of parents, in allowance towards their children, is
an harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts;
makes them sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit
more when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof is best,
when men keep their authority towards the children, but not their
purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents and
schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an
emulation between brothers, during childhood, which many times
sorteth to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families.
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