"And for that the minde in infantes is like a payre of tables, wherein nothing is written, and like & tender twig which may be bowed euery way, it is cleare, that vertue or vice may easily be planted in it."
— Guazzo, Stefano (1530-1593); Pettie, George, trans. (1548-1589)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Richard Watkins
Date
1581
Metaphor
"And for that the minde in infantes is like a payre of tables, wherein nothing is written, and like & tender twig which may be bowed euery way, it is cleare, that vertue or vice may easily be planted in it."
Metaphor in Context
To this Christian admonition agreeth that which the diuine Philosopher Plato saith, where he [...] against fathers, which shew them solues ignorant what theyr ought to do, trotting vp & downe this way and that way, casting all their care to heape vp much wealth, & taking so litle care for the children who must possesse it, that they exercise them neither in the vertue of iustice, nor of liberalitie, wherby they may be able to distribute, [...]se, & bestow their goods as they ought to doe. Which doing, it may be sayde, that they prouide for thinges superfluous, and neglecte thinges necessarie. Whiche the Persians knewe well, who though they were ignoraunt of the true worship of God, yet they [end page 27] were carefull aboue al things to haue their children instructed in iustice and vertue. I would then haue parentes take care both for the minde, and the body of their children: But for that the minde is more excellent, it is reason to cast our chiefest care vpon it. And for that the minde in infantes is like a payre of tables, wherein nothing is written, and like & tender twig which may be bowed euery way, it is cleare, that vertue or vice may easily be planted in it. And for that it is knowen by proofe, that those things are kept best in memorie which are learned in youth, fathers ought to instruct their children in the best thinges, that is, in the feare and loue of God: Holding it for a generall rule, that he whiche knoweth euery thing, and knoweth not God, knoweth nothing.
Categories
Provenance
Browsing in EEBO. Checking an earlier translation of Guazzo.
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1581, 1586, 1607, 1738).
Guazzo, Stephano. The Ciuile Conuersation of M. Steeuen Guazzo. Written First in Italian, and Nowe Translated out of French by George Pettie, Deuided Into Foure Bookes. In the First Is Conteined in Generall, the Fruites That May Bee Reaped by Conuersation ... In the Second, the Manner of Conuersation ... In the Third Is Perticularly Set Foorth the Orders to Bee Obserued in Conuersation Within Doores, Betwéene the Husband and the Wife ... In the Fourth, the Report of a Banquet. (Imprinted at London: by [Thomas Dawson for] Richard Watkins, 1581). <Link to ESTC>.<Link to EEBO>
Guazzo, Stephano. The Ciuile Conuersation of M. Steeuen Guazzo. Written First in Italian, and Nowe Translated out of French by George Pettie, Deuided Into Foure Bookes. In the First Is Conteined in Generall, the Fruites That May Bee Reaped by Conuersation ... In the Second, the Manner of Conuersation ... In the Third Is Perticularly Set Foorth the Orders to Bee Obserued in Conuersation Within Doores, Betwéene the Husband and the Wife ... In the Fourth, the Report of a Banquet. (Imprinted at London: by [Thomas Dawson for] Richard Watkins, 1581). <Link to ESTC>.<Link to EEBO>
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
10/18/2006
