Book 2
2.1
On noticing that his eldest son, Lamprocles, was out of humour with his mother, he said: Tell me, my boy, do you know that some men are called ungrateful?Indeed I do, replied the young man.Do you realise how they come to have this bad name?I do; the word is used of those who do not show the gratitude that it is in their power to show for benefits received.You take it, then, that the ungrateful are reckoned among the unjust?Yes.
2.2
Now, seeing that enslavement is considered a just or an unjust act according as the victims are friends or enemies, have you ever considered whether the case of ingratitude is analogous, ingratitude being unjust towards friends, but just towards enemies?Indeed I have; and I think that it is always unjust not to show gratitude for a favour from whomsoever it is received, be he friend or enemy.
2.3
If that is so, must not ingratitude be injustice pure and simple?He assented.Therefore the greater the benefits received the greater the injustice of not showing gratitude?He agreed again.Now what deeper obligation can we find than that of children to their parents? To their parents children owe their being and their portion of all fair sights and all blessings that the gods bestow on men — gifts so highly prized by us that all will sacrifice anything rather than lose them; and the reason why governments have made death the penalty for the greatest crimes is that the fear of it is the strongest deterrent against crime.
