Satire 14 Summary

Children inherit bad habits and bad morals from their parents, Juvenal tells Fuscinus. For example, Rutilus enjoys flogging his slaves, and his son will follow his example. When their mother is promiscuous, daughters will sleep around as well. Humans are more easily and quickly corrupted by examples in their own homes; rarely does a child stray from their parents' examples. Parents should avoid what should be condemned in order to stop the next generation from imitating our crimes. Men are eager to condemn their children for committing the same vices that they do. Parents clean their house before receiving a guest; they should clean up their habits for their children. When parents rear their children correctly, the children will become fine citizens one day. One man spent most of his money on building large, extravagant buildings, but he managed to save a little...