"As states subsist in part by keeping their weaknesses from being known, so is it the quiet of families to have their chancery and their parliament within doors, and to compose and determine all emergent differences there"

This quote by John Donne is a metaphor comparing the way a state is gone to the way a family is run. Donne is suggesting that, simply as a state needs to keep its weak points hidden from the general public, a family needs to keep its disputes and disagreements private. He is advocating for households to have their own "chancery and parliament" within the house, where they can discuss and solve any issues that occur. Donne is stressing the significance of keeping household matters private and not airing them in public. He is recommending that, simply as a state requires to preserve its strength and stability, a family needs to maintain its unity and harmony. By keeping their disputes and arguments within the household, households can preserve their peace and personal privacy.