punishment is to be assigned to ingratitude for these? One less
than the benefit? That would be unjust. One equal to it; death?
What could be more inhuman than to cause benefits to result in
cruelty?

XI. It may be argued, "Parents have certain privileges: these are
regarded as exempt from the action of ordinary rules, and so also
ought to be the case with other beneficent persons." Nay; mankind
has assigned a peculiar sanctity to the position of parents,
because it was advantageous that children should be reared, and
people had to be tempted into undergoing the toil of doing so,
because the issue of their experiment was doubtful. One cannot say
to them, as one does to others who bestow benefits, "Choose the man
to whom you give: you must only blame yourself if you are deceived;
help the deserving." In rearing children nothing depends upon the
judgment of those who rear them; it is a matter of hope: in order,
therefore, that people may be more willing to embark upon this
lottery, it was right that they should be given a certain
authority; and since it is useful for youth to be governed, we have
placed their parents in the position of domestic magistrates, under
whose guardianship their lives may be ruled. Moreover, the position
of parents differs from that of other benefactors, for their having
given formerly to their children does not stand in the way of their
giving now and hereafter; and also, there is no fear of their
falsely asserting that they have given: with others one has to
inquire not only whether they have received, but whether they have
given; but the good deeds of parents are placed beyond doubt. In
the next place, one benefit bestowed by parents is the same for
all, and might be counted once for all; while the others which they
bestow are of various kinds, unlike one to another, differing from