Constitution of the Lacedaimonians

First, to begin at the beginning, I will take the begetting of children.[*](The prose Constitution of the Lacedaemonians by Critias began with the same point. See Introduction 3.) In other states the girls who are destined to become mothers and are brought up in the approved fashion, live on the very plainest fare, with a most meagre allowance of delicacies. Wine is either witheld altogether, or, if allowed them, is diluted with water. The rest of the Greeks expect their girls to imitate the sedentary life that is typical of handicraftsmen — to keep quiet and do wool-work. How, then, is it to be expected that women so brought up will bear fine children?