One of the main lessons that Odysseus teaches both to characters in the Odyssey, and to the readers is that it is better to have had experience, than to have your youth. An example of this is when Odysseus first comes to Ithika as a vagabond claiming to have seen Odysseus himself, and Penelope is eager to see him; "Have you not brought him? Why? What is he thinking? / Has he some fear of overstepping? Shy/ about these inner rooms? A hangdog beggar? ... No/ he reasons as another might, and well/ not to tempt any swordplay from these drunkards./ Be patient, wait-he says-till darkness falls./ And, O my queen, for you too that is better:/ better to be alone with him, and question him,/ and hear him out."(XVII.757-764). In Penelope's eagerness to see him, she forgot of all the dangers of this occurrence...