To beget and rear a man is easier than to put good sense <br /> Inside him. No one yet has ever contrived a way <br />To make the senseless sensible and good men out of bad. <br /> If the sons of Asklepios had this gift from the god, <br />To work a cure on badness and men's infatuate wits, <br /> Many and great would be the fees they earned. <br />And if understanding could be fashioned and placed in a man, <br /> Never would a good man's son have turned out bad, <br />By heeding the words of sensible counsel. But as it is, no teaching <br /> Will ever serve to make the bad man good.<br /><br />Theognis<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fragments-lines-0429-0438/
