The family is an early expedient and in many ways irrational. If the race had developed a special sexless class to be nurses, pedagogues, and slaves, like the workers among ants and bees, then the family would have been unnecessary. Such a division of labor would doubtless have involved evils of its own, but it would have obviated some drags and vexations proper to the family.

Summary

This quote suggests that the concept of family is an imperfect and irrational solution to certain social needs. It argues that if society had developed a separate class to fulfill roles such as nursing, teaching, and servitude, similar to ants or bees, then families would not be necessary. While acknowledging potential downsides to such a division of labor, the quote implies that it could have eliminated some of the difficulties and complications inherent to the institution of family.

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