What was the first written example of the well known complaint that newer generations are progressively worse

by doomdude1

We are all familiar of the constantly repeated complaint that newer generations are worse and from time to time, I came across this phenomenon in older works, but I am curious as to what the first recorded example of that phrade is

kookingpot

That phrase specifically? I don't know. However, that exact sentiment is expressed by the ancient Roman poet Horace around 20 BC:

Our sires' age was worse than our grandsires'. We, their sons, are more worthless than they; so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more corrupt.

(Odes book III).

This Mental_Floss blog post has a rundown of 15 old complaints, mostly between the 1700s and 1800s.

There are a couple other quotations floating about on the internet, from Hesiod and from Socrates, but these have been missattributed, and I cannot find a reliable source for them, and are therefore left out.

Edit: just realized I forgot to put an actual link about Horace