Youth Education

A boy ceases to be a boy and becomes a youth in a critical period. At this point, the rest of the world proceeds to emancipate their children from the private tutor and the schoolmaster and launch them into absolute independence.

Here, again, Lycurgus took an entirely opposite view.

That period is when:

• the tide of animal spirits flows fast, and
  • the most violent appetites for diverse pleasures, in serried ranks, invade the mind
• the froth of insolence rises to the surface

This, then, was the right moment to:

• impose tenfold labours on the growing youth, and
• devise a subtle system of absorbing occupation for him.

Lycurgus made a crowning enactment:

“he who shrank from the duties imposed on him would forfeit henceforth all claim to the glorious honours of the state”

This caused both the public authorities and those personally interested (3) in the several companies of youths to take serious pains so that no single one of them would find himself utterly rejected within the body politic.

In his desire to implant in their youthful souls a root of modesty, he imposed on these bigger boys a special rule.

In the very streets they were to keep their 2 hands (4) within the folds of the cloak. They were to walk in silence and without turning their heads to gaze, now here, now there, but rather to keep their eyes fixed on the ground before them.

This proved that, even in the matter of quiet bearing and sobriety, (5) the masculine type is stronger than women.

You might sooner expect a stone image to find voice than one of those Spartan youths; to divert the eyes of some bronze stature were less difficult.

And as to quiet bearing, no bride ever stepped in bridal bower (6) with more natural modesty. Note them when they have reached the public table. (7) The plainest answer to the question asked—that is all you need expect to hear from their lips.