Context: Demipho, an aged Athenian, goes abroad, leaving his grown son at home in Athens. During the father's absence, the son, named Antipho, marries Phanium without his father's consent, an act unheard of in classical times. Upon Demipho's return he is righteously angry about his son's marriage, and becomes even angrier when Antipho refuses to come to explain the matter to him. In his anger and his anxiety, Demipho turns to his three legal advisers–Hegio, Crito, and Cratinus–for their opinions on what to do in the matter, hoping they can give him advice about what action to take. When Hegio speaks in his turn, he makes the comment about the diversity of men's opinions. The comment has been translated variously, although always with the same meaning.