Don Juan Education Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Canto.Stanza)

Quote #1

In the case our Lord the King should go to war again,
He learned the arts of riding, fencing, gunnery,
And how to scale a fortress—or a nunnery (1.38)

Don Juan's mother wants him to know all the stuff that a man is supposed to know. But little does she realizes that in teaching him this stuff, she's also teaching him to be a womanizer. That's what Byron means when he says that Don Juan will learn how to climb the wall of a nunnery.

Quote #2

His classic studies made a little puzzle,
Because of the filthy loves of gods and goddesses,
Who in the earlier days raised a bustle,
But never put on pantaloons or bodices (1.41)

Donna Inez never educates her son in the classics because she thinks they're too full of sex and violence. But this decision will come back to bite her because Don Juan will go off and learn this stuff by himself anyway.

Quote #3

I never married—but, I think, I know
That sons should not be educated so (1.53)

Byron admits that he's never been married, but he's certain that it's better to send young boys to boarding school than teach them at home. In his mind, there's too much risk of parents spoiling their children and failing to discipline them properly.