Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Abelard on Family Life

I came across this in Peter Abelard the other day:
"What man, intent on his religious or philosophical meditations, can possibly endure the whining of children, the lullabies of the nurse seeking to quiet them, or the noisy confusion of family life? Who can endure the continual untidiness of children?" (History of My Misfortunes, ch. 7)

Any of you academics working on your degrees with children present can surely relate to Abelard's concern, hee hee! Well, he never was married (duh!?) and did eventually get castrated by some really angry guys for sleeping with his collegue's daughter. Boy, if only theology faculties could live up to this sort of drama today!