Ἄχρηστα
useless (things), unprofitable (things)
Translated by Jennifer Benedict8 Jun 2001Vetting: high7 revisions
Translation
And [there is] a proverb: "don't spend [sc. time] on useless things." Never do good for an old man, nor a malignant slave/boy, nor a talkative woman, nor a stupid slave/boy or a neighbor's dog, nor a chattering rower.1
See other [such injunctions] under Pythagoras.2
"Not to dart into (that is, burst into)3 [the house] of a dancing girl, lest, while gaping after such things, you are struck [with an apple]4 by a whore and forfeit (that is, fall away from)5 your good reputation; and not to call [your father] Iapetos and reproach him for his age, from which you were reared in your infancy."6 That is, [call him] idiotic, stupid. Iapetos [was] one of the Giants. And "reared in your infancy" is like brought up.7 "Not to do wicked things to your parents, by doing which you would defile an image of modesty."8 [Meaning] not to do to your parents uncivilized things which would defile images of modesty.
See other [such injunctions] under Pythagoras.2
"Not to dart into (that is, burst into)3 [the house] of a dancing girl, lest, while gaping after such things, you are struck [with an apple]4 by a whore and forfeit (that is, fall away from)5 your good reputation; and not to call [your father] Iapetos and reproach him for his age, from which you were reared in your infancy."6 That is, [call him] idiotic, stupid. Iapetos [was] one of the Giants. And "reared in your infancy" is like brought up.7 "Not to do wicked things to your parents, by doing which you would defile an image of modesty."8 [Meaning] not to do to your parents uncivilized things which would defile images of modesty.