said, "The benefits conferred by fathers cannot be outdone by those
returned by their sons." Why? "Because the son received life from
his father, and had he not received it, he could not have returned
any benefits at all." A father has this in common with all those
who have given any men their lives; it is impossible that these men
could repay the debt if they had not received their life. Then I
suppose one cannot overpay one's debt to a physician, for a
physician gives life as well as a father; or to a sailor who has
saved us when shipwrecked? Yet the benefits bestowed by these and
by all the others who give us life in whatever fashion, can be
outdone: consequently those of our fathers can be outdone. If any
one bestows upon me a benefit which requires the help of benefits
from many other persons, whereas I give him what requires no one to
help it out, I have given more than I have received; now a father
gave to his son a life which, without many accessories to preserve
it, would perish; whereas a son, if he gives life to his father,
gives him a life which requires no assistance to make it lasting;
therefore the father who receives life from his son, receives a
greater benefit than he himself bestowed upon his son.

XXXVI. These considerations do not destroy the respect due to
parents, or make their children behave worse to them, nay, better;
for virtue is naturally ambitious, and wishes to outstrip those who
are before it. Filial piety will be all the more eager, if, in
returning a father's benefits, it can hope to outdo them; nor will
this be against the will or the pleasure of the father, since in
many contests it is to our advantage to be outdone. How does this
contest become so desirable? How comes it to be such happiness to
parents that they should confess themselves outdone by the benefits
bestowed by their children? Unless we decide the matter thus, we