The Abolition of Man - C. S. Lewis [23]
‘Part of us is claimed by our country, part by our parents, part by our friends.’ (Roman. Ibid. 1. vii)
‘If a ruler…compassed the salvation of the whole state, surely you would call him Good? The Master said, It would no longer be a matter of “Good”. He would without doubt be a Divine Sage.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, vi. 28)
‘Has it escaped you that, in the eyes of gods and good men, your native land deserves from you more honour, worship, and reverence than your mother and father and all your ancestors? That you should give a softer answer to its anger than to a father’s anger? That if you cannot persuade it to alter its mind you must obey it in all quietness, whether it binds you or beats you or sends you to a war where you may get wounds or death?’ (Greek. Plato, Crito, 51, a, b)
‘If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith.’ (Christian. 1 Timothy 5:8)
‘Put them in mind to obey magistrates.’…‘I exhort that prayers be made for kings and all that are in authority.’ (Christian. Titus 3:1 and 1 Timothy 2:1, 2)
3. Duties to Parents, Elders, Ancestors
‘Your father is an image of the Lord of Creation, your mother an image of the Earth. For him who fails to honour them, every work of piety is in vain. This is the first duty.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 9)
‘Has he despised Father and Mother?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446)
‘I was a staff by my Father’s side…I went in and out at his command.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 481)
‘Honour thy Father and thy Mother.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:12)
‘To care for parents.’ (Greek. List of duties in Epictetus, 111. vii)
‘Children, old men, the poor, and the sick, should be considered as the lords of the atmosphere.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 8)
‘Rise up before the hoary head and honour the old man.’ (Ancient Jewish. Leviticus 19:32)
‘I tended the old man, I gave him my staff.’ (Ancient Egyptian. ERE v. 481)
‘You will see them take care…of old men.’ (Redskin. Le Jeune, quoted ERE v. 437)
‘I have not taken away the oblations of the blessed dead.’ (Ancient Egyptian. Confession of the Righteous Soul. ERE v. 478)
‘When proper respect towards the dead is shown at the end and continued after they are far away, the moral force (tê) of a people has reached its highest point.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, i. 9)
4. Duties to Children and Posterity
‘Children, the old, the poor, etc. should be considered as lords of the atmosphere.’ (Hindu. Janet, i. 8)
‘To marry and to beget children.’ (Greek. List of duties. Epictetus, 111. vii)
‘Can you conceive an Epicurean commonwealth?…What will happen? Whence is the population to be kept up? Who will educate them? Who will be Director of Adolescents? Who will be Director of Physical Training? What will be taught?’ (Greek. Ibid.)
‘Nature produces a special love of offspring’ and ‘To live according to Nature is the supreme good.’ (Roman. Cicero, De Off. 1. iv, and De Legibus, 1. xxi)
‘The second of these achievements is no less glorious than the first; for while the first did good on one occasion, the second will continue to benefit the state for ever.’ (Roman. Cicero. De Off. 1. xxii)
‘Great reverence is owed to a child.’ (Roman. Juvenal, xiv. 47) ‘The Master said, Respect the young.’ (Ancient Chinese. Analects, ix. 22)
‘The killing of the women and more especially of the young boys and girls who are to go to make up the future strength of the people, is the saddest part…and we feel it very sorely.’ (Redskin. Account of the Battle of Wounded Knee. ERE v. 432)
5. The Law of Justice
(a) SEXUAL JUSTICE
‘Has he approached his neighbour’s wife?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446)
‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ (Ancient Jewish. Exodus 20:14)
‘I saw in Nástrond (= Hell)…beguilers of others’ wives.’ (Old Norse. Volospá 38, 39)
(b) HONESTY
‘Has he drawn false boundaries?’ (Babylonian. List of Sins. ERE v. 446)