The Instructor 2.10.90
Summary: We should regard boys as sons and other men's wives as daughters, and control the sexual organs with modesty; nature permits marriage for procreation, not excess or relations with youths.
Greek text · Stählin 1:211–212
τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐνσχεθῆναι, φυλάξασθαι δὲ μὴ περιπεσεῖν τοῖς ἴσοις. χρὴ δὲ υἱοὺς μὲν ἡγεῖσθαι τοὺς παῖδας, εἰς δὲ τὰς γυναῖκας τὰς ἀλλοτρίας ὡς ἰδίας ἀφορᾶν θυγατέρας κρατεῖν τε ἡδονῶν γαστρός τε ἔτι καὶ τῶν ὑπὸ γαστέρα δεσπόζειν ἀρχικώτατον. εἰ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν δάκτυλον ὡς ἔτυχε σαλεύειν τῷ σοφῷ ὁ λόγος ἐπιτρέπει, ὡς ὁμολογοῦσιν οἱ Στωϊκοί, πῶς οὐχὶ πολὺ πλέον τοῦ συνουσιαστικοῦ ἐπικρατητέον μορίου τοῖς σοφίαν διώκουσιν; ταύτῃ μοι δοκεῖ καὶ ὠνομάσθαι αἰδοῖον, ὅτι χρὴ παντὸς μᾶλλον τούτῳ τοῦ σώματος τῷ μέρει χρῆσθαι μετὰ αἰδοῦς· ἡ γὰρ φύσις ὥσπερ καὶ ταῖς τροφαῖς, οὕτω δὲ καὶ τοῖς κατὰ νόμον γάμοις ὅσον οἰκεῖον καὶ χρήσιμον καὶ εὐπρεπὲς ἐπέτρεψεν ἡμῖν, ἐπέτρεψεν δὲ ὀρέγεσθαι παιδοποιίας. ὅσοι δὲ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν διώκουσι, πταίουσι περὶ τὸ κατὰ φύσιν, σφᾶς αὐτοὺς βλάπτοντες κατὰ τὰς παρανόμους συνουσίας. ἔχει γὰρ ὀρθῶς παντὸς μᾶλλον μή ποτε κοινωνεῖν καθάπερ θηλειῶν πρὸς μῖξιν ἀφροδισίων τοῖς νέοις.
English · Claude translation
be caught in the same things, but may guard against falling into like ones. We should regard boys as sons, and look on other men's wives as our own daughters, master the pleasures of the belly, and most commandingly rule what is below the belly. For if the Word does not permit the wise man, as the Stoics agree, to move even a finger at random, how much more must those who pursue wisdom master the organ of intercourse? That is why, it seems to me, it is called aidoion (“the part of modesty”), because we must use this part of the body, more than any other, with modesty (aidōs). For nature has permitted us, as with food, so with lawful marriages, what is proper, useful, and seemly; and it has permitted us to desire the begetting of children. Those who pursue excess stumble concerning what is natural, harming themselves in unlawful intercourse. Above all it is right never to have sexual relations with youths as if with women.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The advice echoes 1 Tim 5:1–2. The Stoic saying (the wise man does not move a finger at random) is attributed to Chrysippus.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.10.90 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/10/90/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.10.90 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/10/90/).
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