And in another place Odysseus says there is no better way of passing
life than when men's hearts are merry and
The banqueters in the hall, sitting in order, hear the voice of
the minstrel.
It is evident, then, that there is a sort of education in which
parents should train their sons, not as being useful or necessary, but
because it is liberal or noble. Whether this is of one kind only, or
of more than one, and if so, what they are, and how they are to be
imparted, must hereafter be determined. Thus much we are now in a
position to say, that the ancients witness to us; for their opinion
may be gathered from the fact that music is one of the received and
traditional branches of education. Further, it is clear that
children should be instructed in some useful things- for example, in
reading and writing- not only for their usefulness, but also because
many other sorts of knowledge are acquired through them. With a like
view they may be taught drawing, not to prevent their making
mistakes in their own purchases, or in order that they may not be
imposed upon in the buying or selling of articles, but perhaps
rather because it makes them judges of the beauty of the human form.
To be always seeking after the useful does not become free and exalted
souls. Now it is clear that in education practice must be used
before theory, and the body be trained before the mind; and
therefore boys should be handed over to the trainer, who creates in
them the roper habit of body, and to the wrestling-master, who teaches
them their exercises.
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