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34. Since, too, the duties that properly belong to different times of life are not the same, but
some belong to the young, others to those more
advanced in years, a word must be said on this distinction also.
It is, then, the duty of a young man to show deference 1 to his elders and to attach himself to the best
and most approved of them, so as to receive the benefit
of their counsel and influence. For the inexperience of youth requires the practical wisdom of age
to strengthen and direct it. And this time of life
is above all to be protected against sensuality and
trained to toil and endurance of both mind and
body, so as to be strong for active duty in military
and civil service. And even when they wish to relax
their minds and give themselves up to enjoyment
they should beware of excesses and bear in mind
the rules of modesty. And this will be easier, if
the young are not unwilling to have their elders join
them even in their pleasures.
1 Duties of (1) youth,
M. Tullius Cicero. De Officiis. With An English Translation. Walter Miller. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1913.
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