eived a greater
benefit than he bestowed. Now, a father has given life to his son: if,
therefore, he be more than once saved from peril by his son, he can
receive a greater benefit than he gave. A benefit becomes greater to the
receiver in proportion to his need of it. Now he who is alive needs life
more than he who has not been born, seeing that such a one can have no
need at all; consequently a father, if his life is saved by his son,
receives a greater benefit than his son received from him by being born.
It is 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 give children an excuse, and make them less
eager