HOW MUCH SLEEP DO WE NEED?


 
Scientists and medical doctors may not agree today about the amount of sleep the average person needs; however, the ancients discovered the exact number of hours required according to English tradition depending on whether you were a man, woman, or fool. Spanish was far more detailed and distinguished the hours of sleep needed by "gallos, santos, navegantes, estudiantes, caminantes, jornaleros, caballeros, majaderos, muchachos y borrachos." I do not know how they determined the exact number of hours required, though I am sure complex studies were conducted. 

Six hours sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool Una hora duerme el gallo; dos el caballo; tres el santo; cuatro el que no es tanto; cinco el navegante; seis el estudiante; siete el caminante; ocho el jornalero; nueve el caballero; diez el majadero; once el muchacho y doce el borracho
“Irish Members could not be satisfied with 12 hours' sleep: For his part, he only required seven hours; and he reminded the House of the saying of George III: Six hours for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool.”  Sir George Campbell, House of Commons, June 12, 1882. UK. 

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