The unwritten law which prohibits members of the same family from such intercourse is strictly obeyed, and no thought of anything else ever enters into the minds of men in general.

A little word puts out the fire of their lusts.
'What is it ?' The declaration that such things are hateful to the Gods, and most abominable and unholy.

The reason is that everywhere, in jest and earnest alike, this is the doctrine which is repeated to all from their earliest youth.

They see on the stage that an Oedipus or a Thyestes or a Macareus, when undeceived, are ready to kill themselves.
There is an undoubted power in public opinion when no breath is heard adverse to the law; and the legislator who would enslave these enslaving passions must consecrate such a public opinion all through the city.
'Good: but how can you create it ?' A fair objection; but I promised to try and find some means of restraining loves to their natural objects.

A law which would extirpate unnatural love as effectually as incest is at present extirpated, would be the source of innumerable blessings, because it would be in accordance with nature, and would get rid of excess in eating and drinking and of adulteries and frenzies, making men love their wives, and having other excellent effects.