Wives are always wanting something.
Deprived of it, they pass whole nights in endless complaining. Why did you stare at that pretty neighbour? What were you saying to the little servant girl?
To feed a poor wife is a burden, but what agony to support a rich one! If she is beautiful, men run after her; if she is ugly, she runs after men. One has either the task of keeping what everyone wants or the annoyance of keeping what no one wants.
Better not to take a wife but to get a good servant.
[Theophrastus, 372-287 B.C.]
