To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.

The line expresses a sentiment often found in Greek tragedy: as a man ages and his public roles (warrior, citizen, ruler) recede, his emotional world narrows toward the household, and affection for children—especially a daughter—becomes paramount. It highlights the tenderness and vulnerability of old age, when legacy and family bonds matter more than ambition. In a tragic context, such a remark typically heightens pathos by foregrounding what is at stake: the potential loss, sacrifice, or marriage of a daughter becomes not merely a social transaction but the dearest remaining attachment of an aging father.