Jeg følte mig trods alt en smule truffet, skønt det ikke er mig, der
tillægger Sokrates udtalelsen.
Jeg har søgt lidt på nettet - der er talrige engelske og amerikanske
henvisninger til citatet - jeg har fundet følgende, der mådke kan kaste lidt
lys over det:
Citat begynd:
The quote is commonly attributed to Socrates, but apparently there is
no conclusive evidence that he actually said it. The Library of
Congress notes that this quote is "attributed to Socrates by Plato" in
a 1950's book the name of which escapes me.
The quote may have come from Plato's Republic Book 4, where Socrates
is quoted saying the following regarding things that he thinks have
been neglected: "I mean such things as these: - when the young are to
be silent before their elders; how they are to show respect to them by
standing and making them sit; what honour is due to parents; what
garments or shoes are to be worn; the mode of dressing the hair;
deportment and manners in general. You would agree with me? - Yes."
The Greek philosopher Plato studied under Socrates. Plato complained
about the youth of the day, also. "What is happening to our young
people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They
ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions.
Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" I think this is
a direct quote, but can't find the reference at the moment.
Here's another one:
"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on
frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond
words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and
respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise
[disrespectful] and impatient of restraint" (Hesiod, 8th century BC).
Citat slut.
Der er så formentlig ingen direkte kilde til citatet, der synes stykket
sammen af flere udtalelser. Hvad, der derimod kan udledes, er, at alle
påstande om "ungdommen nu om dage" er udtryk for, at vi alle bliver ældre,
og at der er en generationskløft.
Min påstand er, at de gode gamle dage er lige nu - og rigtig gode bliver de
først om 50 år.