The Instructor 3.11.61
Summary: Hair should be cut only as needed, the moustache trimmed with scissors, and the beard left alone for its dignity; a distinctive appearance helps keep people from sinning.
Greek text · Stählin 1:270–271
ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐχ ὡραϊσμοῦ χάριν ἡ κουρὰ παραληπτέα, διὰ περίστασιν δέ, τὰς μὲν τῆς κεφαλῆς τρίχας ὡς μὴ αὐξόμεναι ταῖς ὄψεσιν ἐμποδίζοιεν καταβαίνουσαι, καὶ ἴσως τὰς ἐπὶ τῷ μύστακι μολυνομένας κατὰ τὴν τροφὴν περικαρτέον, οὐ ξυρῷ (ἀγεννὲς γάρ), ἀλλὰ ταῖς δυοῖν μαχαίραις ταῖς κουρικαῖς, τὰς δὲ τοῦ γενείου μηδέν τι παραλυπούσας οὐκ ἐνοχλητέον, σεμνότητα μὲν τοῦ προσώπου καὶ κατάπληξιν γεννητικὴν * * ἐμποιούσας· πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ τὸ σχῆμα παραπαιδαγωγεῖ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν διὰ τὸ εὐεξέλεγκτον, τοῖς δὲ ἀναφανδὸν ἁμαρτάνειν ἐθέλουσιν τὸ λανθάνον τοῦ σχήματος καὶ μὴ παράσημον ἐπιτερπέστατον, ὑφʼ ᾧ δεδυκότες οἷς ἔξεστι διʼ ἄγνοιαν πλημμελεῖν
English · Claude translation
Since cutting the hair is to be done not for beauty but out of necessity, the hair of the head should be cut so that, as it grows, it does not come down and get in the eyes; and perhaps the hair on the upper lip, which is soiled in eating, should be trimmed, not with a razor (that is ignoble) but with a pair of scissors; but the hair of the beard, which causes no trouble, should not be disturbed, since it gives the face dignity and inspires … respect. The appearance itself teaches many not to sin, because it makes them easily recognized; while for those who wish to sin boldly, an appearance that escapes notice and is not distinctive is most pleasing: slipping behind it, they can offend unrecognized,
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The asterisks mark a gap in the manuscript. The sentence continues in the next section.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.11.61 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/11/61/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 3.11.61 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/3/11/61/).
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