Info For You Lot Lord Ptah-Hotep, Vizier Too The Author Of The Basis Oldest Majority (2200 Bce)
Ptah-hotep served during the reign of Pharaoh Izezi every bit a sage/vizier. He was what nosotros could at nowadays designate every bit Governor of Memphis in addition to a Prime Minister to the King, nether the fifth Dynasty.
His maxims are inwards the Prisse Papyrus which are inwards the Louvre Museum. Another re-create of these is inwards the British Museum. It was written for the do goodness of his son, the designated heir of the vizier. He was expected to follow in addition to practise these wise directives inwards club to move a successful official of the state.
Ptah-Hotep the world`s oldest philosopher writer
The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep is an example of the Egyptian controlled usage of the values of this world towards the achievement of happiness hither in addition to hereafter. This world oldest operate of philosophy known to us is the "Instructions of Ptah-hotep," land goes dorsum to 2880 B.C.—2300 years earlier Confucius, Socrates in addition to Buddha
THE PRECEPTS OF PTAH-HOTEP, 2200 BCE
THE OLDEST BOOK IN THE WORLD
fifth Dynasty
Precepts of the prefect, the lord Ptah-hotep, nether the Majesty of the King of the South in addition to North,
Assa, living eternally forever.
Vizier Ptah-Hotep
The prefect, the feudal lord Ptah-hotep, says: O Ptah amongst the ii crocodiles, my lord, the progress of historic menstruum changes into senility. Decay falls upon human in addition to decline takes the identify of youth. H5N1 vexation weighs upon him every day; sight fails, the ear becomes deaf; his strength dissolves without ceasing. The oral cavity is silent, spoken language fails him; the heed decays, remembering non the solar daytime before. The whole trunk suffers. That which is expert becomes evil; gustatory modality completely disappears. Old historic menstruum makes a human altogether miserable; the olfactory organ is stopped up, breathing no to a greater extent than from exhaustion. Standing or sitting at that spot is hither a status of . . . Who volition crusade me to have got potency to speak, that I may declare to him the words of those who have got heard the counsels of one-time days? And the counsels heard of the gods, who volition give me potency to declare them? Cause that it last so in addition to that evil last removed from those that are enlightened; send the double . . . The majesty of this god says: Instruct him inwards the sayings of one-time days. It is this which constitutes the merit of the children of the great. All that which makes the soul equal penetrates him who hears it, in addition to that which it says produces no satiety.
Ptah-Hotep
Beginning of the organization of the expert sayings, spoken yesteryear the noble lord, the divine father, dear of Ptah, the boy of the king, the first-born of his race, the prefect in addition to feudal lord Ptah-hotep, so every bit to instruct the ignorant inwards the noesis of the arguments of the expert sayings. It is profitable for him who hears them, it is a loss to him who shall transgress them. He says to his son:
Be non arrogant because of that which you lot know; bargain amongst the ignorant every bit amongst the learned; for the barriers of fine art are non closed, no creative soul beingness inwards possession of the perfection to which he should aspire. But expert words are to a greater extent than hard to uncovering than the emerald, for it is yesteryear slaves that that is discovered amid the rocks of pegmatite.
If you lot uncovering a disputant spell he is hot, in addition to if he is superior to you lot inwards ability, lower the hands, curvature the back, do non acquire into a passion amongst him. As he volition non allow you lot destroy his words, it is utterly incorrect to interrupt him; that proclaims that you lot are incapable of keeping yourself calm, when you lot are contradicted. If in addition to so you lot have got to do amongst a disputant spell he is hot, copy 1 who does non stir. You have got the wages over him if you lot maintain quiet when he is uttering evil words. "The improve of the ii is he who is impassive," say the bystanders, in addition to you lot are correct inwards the sentiment of the great.
If you lot uncovering a disputant spell he is hot, do non despise him because you lot are non of the same opinion. Be non angry against him when he is wrong; away amongst such a thing. He fights against himself; require him non farther to flatter your feelings. Do non amuse yourself amongst the spectacle which you lot have got earlier you; it is odious, it is mean, it is the constituent of a despicable soul so to do. As shortly every bit you lot allow yourself last moved yesteryear your feelings, combat this want every bit a thing that is reproved yesteryear the great.
If you lot have, every bit leader, to create upwards one's heed on the bear of a keen number of men, attempt the most perfect
manner of doing so that your ain bear may last without reproach. Justice is great, invariable, in addition to assured; it has non been disturbed since the historic menstruum of Ptah. To throw obstacles inwards the way of the laws is to opened upwards the way earlier violence. Shall that which is below gain the upper hand, if the unjust does non attain to the identify of justice? Even he who says: I choose for myself, of my ain free-will; but says not: I choose yesteryear virtue of my authority. The limitations of judge are invariable; such is the didactics which every human receives from his father.
Inspire non men amongst fear, else Ptah volition handle against you lot inwards the same manner. If whatsoever 1 asserts that he lives yesteryear such means, Ptah volition choose away the breadstuff from his mouth; if whatsoever 1 asserts that he enriches himself thereby, Ptah says: I may choose those riches to myself. If whatsoever 1 asserts that he beats others, Ptah volition terminate yesteryear reducing him to impotence. Let no 1 inspire men amongst fear; this is the volition of Ptah. Let 1 render sustenance for them inwards the lap of peace; it volition in addition to so last that they volition freely give what has been torn from them yesteryear terror.
If you lot are amid the persons seated at meat inwards the theatre of a greater human than yourself, choose that which he gives you, bowing to the ground. Regard that which is placed earlier you, but indicate non at it; regard it non frequently; he is a blameworthy soul who departs from this rule. Speak non to the keen human to a greater extent than than he requires, for 1 knows non what may last displeasing to him. Speak when he invites you lot in addition to your worth volition last pleasing. As for the keen human who has enough of agency of existence, his bear is every bit he himself wishes. He does that which pleases him; if he desires to repose, he realizes his intention. The keen human stretching forth his mitt does that to which other men do non attain. But every bit the agency of existence are nether the volition of Ptah, 1 tin non rebel against it.
If you lot are 1 of those who convey the messages of 1 keen human to another, accommodate yourself precisely to that wherewith he has charged you; perform for him the committee every bit he has enjoined you. Beware of altering inwards speaking the offensive words which 1 keen soul addresses to another; he who perverts the trustfulness of his way, inwards club to repeat only what produces pleasance inwards the words of every man, keen or small, is a detestable person.
If you lot are a farmer, assemble the crops inwards the land which the keen Ptah has given you, do non boast inwards the theatre of your neighbors; it is improve to brand oneself dreaded yesteryear one's deeds. As for him who, master copy of his ain way of acting, beingness all-powerful, seizes the goods of others similar a crocodile inwards the midst fifty-fifty of watchment, his children are an object of malediction, of scorn, in addition to of hatred on draw of piece of job concern human relationship of it, spell his virile soul parent is grievously distressed, in addition to every bit for the woman parent who has borne him, happy is some other rather than herself. But a human becomes a god when he is principal of a tribe which has confidence inwards next him.
If you lot abase yourself inwards obeying a superior, your bear is solely expert earlier Ptah. Knowing who you lot ought to obey in addition to who you lot ought to command, do non elevator upwards your pump against him. As you lot know that inwards him is authority, last respectful toward him every bit belonging to him. Wealth comes only at Ptah's ain good-will, in addition to his caprice only is the law; every bit for him who . . Ptah, who has created his superiority, turns himself from him in addition to he is overthrown.
Be active during the fourth dimension of your existence, do no to a greater extent than than is commanded. Do non spoil the fourth dimension of your activity; he is a blameworthy soul who makes a bad usage of his moments. Do non lose the daily chance of increasing that which your theatre possesses. Activity produces riches, in addition to riches do non endure when it slackens.
If you lot are a wise man, convey upwards a boy who shall last pleasing to Ptah. If he conforms his bear to your way in addition to occupies himself amongst your affairs every bit is right, do to him all the expert you lot can; he is your son, a soul attached to you lot whom your ain self has begotten. Separate non your pump from him.... But if he conducts himself sick in addition to transgresses your wish, if he rejects all counsel, if his oral cavity goes according to the evil word, strike him on the oral cavity inwards return. Give orders without hesitation to those who do wrong, to him whose temper is turbulent; in addition to he volition non deviate from the instantly path, in addition to at that spot volition last no obstruction to interrupt the way.
If you lot are employed inwards the larit, stand upwards or sit down rather than walk about. Lay downward rules for yourself from the first: non to absent yourself fifty-fifty when weariness overtakes you. Keep an oculus on him who enters announcing that what he asks is secret; what is entrusted to you lot is higher upwards appreciation, in addition to all opposite declaration is a affair to last rejected. He is a god who penetrates into a identify where no relaxation of the rules is made for the privileged.
If you lot are amongst people who display for you lot an extreme affection, saying: "Aspiration of my heart, aspiration of my heart, where at that spot is no remedy! That which is said inwards your heart, allow it last realized yesteryear springing upwards spontaneously. Sovereign master, I give myself to your opinion. Your yell is approved without speaking. Your trunk is total of vigor, your confront is higher upwards your neighbors." If in addition to so you lot are accustomed to this excess of flattery, in addition to at that spot last an obstruction to you lot inwards your desires, in addition to so your impulse is to obey your passion. But he who . . . according to his caprice, his soul is . . ., his trunk is . . . While the human who is master copy of his soul is superior to those whom Ptah has loaded amongst his gifts; the human who obeys his passion is nether the mightiness of his wife.
Declare your draw of bear without reticence; give your sentiment inwards the council of your lord; spell at that spot are people who plow dorsum upon their ain words when they speak, so every bit non to scandalise him who has position forrard a statement, in addition to reply non inwards this fashion: "He is the keen human who volition recognize the mistake of another; in addition to when he shall enhance his vox to oppose the other close it he volition maintain quiet afterwards what I have got said."
If you lot are a leader, setting forrard your plans according to that which you lot decide, perform perfect actions which posterity may remember, without letting the words prevail amongst you lot which multiply flattery, which excite pride in addition to make vanity.
If you lot are a leader of peace, hear to the discourse of the petitioner. Be non abrupt amongst him; that would problem him. Say non to him: "You have got already recounted this." Indulgence volition encourage him to accomplish the object of his coming. As for beingness abrupt amongst the complainant because he described what passed when the injury was done, instead of complaining of the injury itself allow it non be! The way to obtain a clear explanation is to hear amongst kindness.
If you lot want to excite honour inside the theatre you lot enter, for example the theatre of a superior, a friend, or whatsoever soul of consideration, inwards brusk everywhere where you lot enter, maintain yourself from making advances to a woman, for at that spot is naught expert inwards so doing. There is no prudence inwards taking constituent inwards it, in addition to thousands of men destroy themselves inwards club to savor a moment, brief every bit a dream, spell they gain death, so every bit to know it. It is a villainous intention, that of a human who thus excites himself; if he goes on to carry it out, his heed abandons him. For every bit for him who is without repugnance for such an act, at that spot is no expert sense at all inwards him.
If you lot want that your bear should last expert in addition to preserved from all evil, maintain yourself from every laid on of bad humor. It is a fatal malady which leads to discord, in addition to at that spot is no longer whatsoever existence for him who gives way to it. For it introduces discord betwixt fathers in addition to mothers, every bit good every bit betwixt brothers in addition to sisters; it causes the married adult woman in addition to the hubby to detest each other; it contains all kinds of wickedness, it embodies all kinds of wrong. When a human has established his merely equilibrium in addition to walks inwards this path, at that spot where he makes his dwelling, at that spot is no room for bad humor.
Be non of an irritable temper every bit regards that which happens at your side; grumble non over your ain affairs. Be non of an irritable temper inwards regard to your neighbors; improve is a compliment to that which displeases than rudeness. It is incorrect to acquire into a passion amongst one's neighbors, to last no longer master copy of one's words. When at that spot is only a piffling irritation, 1 creates for oneself an disease for the fourth dimension when 1 volition 1 time again last cool.
If you lot are wise, facial expression afterwards your house; love your married adult woman without alloy. Fill her stomach, clothe her back; these are the cares to last bestowed on her person. Caress her, fulfil her desires during the fourth dimension of her existence; it is a kindness which does award to its possessor. Be non brutal; tact volition influence her improve than violence; her . . . behold to what she aspires, at what she aims, what she regards. It is that which fixes her inwards your house; if you lot repel her, it is an abyss. Open your arms for her, respond to her arms; telephone telephone her, display to her your love.
Treat your dependents well, inwards so far every bit it belongs to you lot to do so; in addition to it belongs to those whom Ptah has favored. If whatsoever 1 fails inwards treating his dependents good it is said: "He is a soul . . ." As nosotros do non know the events which may occur tomorrow, he is a wise soul yesteryear whom 1 is good treated. When at that spot comes the necessity of showing zeal, it volition in addition to so last the dependents themselves who say: "Come on, come upwards on," if expert handling has non quitted the place; if it has quitted it, the dependents are defaulters.
Do non repeat whatsoever extravagance of language; do non hear to it; it is a thing which has escaped from a hasty mouth. If it is repeated, look, without hearing it, toward the earth; say naught inwards regard to it. Cause him who speaks to you lot to know what is just, fifty-fifty him who provokes to injustice; crusade that which is merely to last done, crusade it to triumph. As for that which is intend according to the law, condemn it yesteryear unveiling it.
If you lot are a wise man, sitting inwards the council of your lord, direct your thought toward that which is wise. Be soundless rather than scatter your words. When you lot speak, know that which tin last brought against you. To beak inwards the council is an art, in addition to spoken language is criticized to a greater extent than than whatsoever other labor; it is contradiction which puts it to the proof.
If you lot are powerful, honour noesis in addition to calmness of language. Command only to direct; to last absolute is to encounter evil. Let non your pump last haughty, neither allow it last mean. Do non allow your orders rest unsaid in addition to crusade your answers to penetrate; but beak without heat, assume a serious countenance. As for the vivacity of an ardent heart, temper it; the gentle human penetrates all obstacles. He who agitates himself all the solar daytime long has non a expert moment; in addition to he who amuses himself all the solar daytime long keeps non his fortune. Aim at fulness similar pilots; 1 time 1 is seated some other works, in addition to seeks to obey one's orders.
Disturb non a keen man; weaken non the attending of him who is occupied. His attention is to encompass his task, in addition to he strips his soul through the love which he puts into it. That transports men to Ptah, fifty-fifty the love for the operate which they accomplish. Compose in addition to so your confront fifty-fifty inwards trouble, that peace may last amongst you, when agitation is amongst . . .These are the people who succeed inwards what they desire.
Teach others to homecoming homage to a keen man. If you lot assemble the crop for him amid men, crusade it to homecoming fully to its owner, at whose hands is your subsistence. But the gift of affection is worth to a greater extent than than the provisions amongst which your dorsum is covered. For that which the keen human receives from you lot volition enable your theatre to live, without speaking of the maintenance you lot enjoy, which you lot want to preserve; it is thereby that he extends a beneficent hand, in addition to that inwards your identify expert things are added to expert things. Let your love transcend into the pump of those who love you; crusade those close you lot to last loving in addition to obedient.
If you lot are a boy of the guardians deputed to spotter over the populace tranquillity, execute your committee without knowing its meaning, in addition to beak amongst firmness. Substitute non for that which the instructor has said what you lot believe to last his intention; the keen usage words every bit it suits them. Your constituent is to transmit rather than to comment upon.
If you lot are annoyed at a thing, if you lot are tormented yesteryear someone who is acting inside his right, move out of his sight, in addition to recall him no to a greater extent than when he has ceased to address you.
If you lot have got move keen afterwards having been little, if you lot have got move rich afterwards having been poor, when you lot are at the caput of the city, know how non to choose wages of the fact that you lot have got reached the initiative off rank, harden non your pump because of your elevation; you lot are move only the administrator, the prefect, of the provisions which belong to Ptah. Put non behind you lot the vecino who is similar you; last unto him every bit a companion.
Bend your dorsum earlier your superior. You are attached to the palace of the king; your theatre is established inwards its fortune, in addition to your profits are every bit is fitting. Yet a human is annoyed at having an potency higher upwards himself, in addition to passes the menstruum of life inwards beingness vexed thereat. Although that hurts non your . . . Do non plunder the theatre of your neighbors, seize non yesteryear forcefulness the goods which are beside you. Exclaim non in addition to so against that which you lot hear, in addition to do non experience humiliated. It is necessary to reverberate when 1 is hindered yesteryear it that the pressure level of potency is felt too yesteryear one's neighbor.
Do non brand . . . you lot know that at that spot are obstacles to the H2O which comes to its hinder part, in addition to that at that spot is no trickling of that which is inwards its bosom. Let it non . . . afterwards having corrupted his heart.
If you lot aim at polished manners, telephone telephone non him whom you lot accost. Converse amongst him particularly inwards such a way every bit non to annoy him. Enter on a give-and-take amongst him only afterwards having left him fourth dimension to saturate his heed amongst the dependent land of the conversation. If he lets his ignorance display itself, in addition to if he gives you lot all chance to disgrace him, process him amongst courtesy rather; proceed non to drive him into a corner; do non . . . the news to him; reply non inwards a crushing manner; compaction him not; worry him not; inwards club that inwards his plow he may non homecoming to the subject, but depart to the turn a profit of your conversation.
Let your countenance last cheerful during the fourth dimension of your existence. When nosotros reckon 1 departing from the storehouse who has entered inwards club to convey his portion of provision, amongst his confront contracted, it shows that his tummy is empty in addition to that potency is offensive to him. Let non that occur to you; it is . . .
Know those who are faithful to you lot when you lot are inwards depression estate. Your merit in addition to so is worth to a greater extent than than those who did you lot honor. His . . ., behold that which a human possesses completely. That is of to a greater extent than importance than his high rank; for this is a affair which passes from 1 to another. The merit of one's boy is advantageous to the father, in addition to that which he actually is, is worth to a greater extent than than the remembrance of his father's rank.
Distinguish the superintendent who directs from the workman, for manual labor is piffling elevated; the inaction of the hands is honorable. If a human is non inwards the evil way, that which places him at that spot is the want of subordination to authority.
The Imhotep Museum
Statue of Ptah-hotep, fifth Dynasty
If you lot choose a wife, do non . . . Let her last to a greater extent than contented than whatsoever of her fellow-citizens. She volition last attached to you lot doubly, if her chain is pleasant. Do non repel her; grant that which pleases her; it is to her contentment that she appreciates your work.
If you lot hear those things which I have got said to you, your wisdom volition last fully advanced. Although they are the agency which are suitable for arriving at the maat,, in addition to it is that which makes them precious, their retentiveness would recede from the oral cavity of men. But thank you lot to the beauty of their organization inwards beat all their words volition at nowadays last carried without alteration over this Earth eternally. That volition create a canvass to last embellished, whereof the keen volition speak, inwards club to instruct men inwards its sayings. After having listened to them the educatee volition move a master, fifty-fifty he who shall have got properly listened to the sayings because he shall have got heard them. Let him win success yesteryear placing himself inwards the initiative off rank; that is for him a spot perfect in addition to durable, in addition to he has naught farther to want forever. By noesis his path is assured, in addition to he is made happy yesteryear it on the earth. The wise human is satiated yesteryear knowledge; he is a keen human through his ain merits. His natural language is inwards accord amongst his mind; merely are his lips when he speaks, his eyes when he gazes, his ears when he hears. The wages of his boy is to do that which is merely without deceiving himself.
To attend hence profits the boy of him who has attended. To attend is the final result of the fact that 1 has attended. H5N1 teachable auditor is formed, because I have got attended. Good when he has attended, expert when he speaks, he who has attended has profited, in addition to it is profitable to attend to him who has attended. To attend is worth to a greater extent than than anything else, for it produces love, the expert thing that is twice good. The boy who accepts the didactics of his virile soul parent volition grow old on that account. What Ptah loves is that 1 should attend; if 1 attends not, it is abhorrent to Ptah. The pump makes itself its ain master copy when it attends in addition to when it does non attend; but if it attends, in addition to so his pump is a beneficent master copy to a man. In attending to instruction, a human loves what he attends to, in addition to to do that which is prescribed is pleasant. When a boy attends to his father, it is a twofold joy for both; when wise things are prescribed to him, the boy is gentle toward his master. Attending to him who has attended when such things have got been prescribed to him, he engraves upon his pump that which is approved yesteryear his father; in addition to the recollection of it is preserved inwards the oral cavity of the living who be upon this earth.
When a boy receives the didactics of his virile soul parent at that spot is no mistake inwards all his plans. Train your boy to last a teachable human whose wisdom is agreeable to the great. Let him direct his oral cavity according to that which has been said to him; inwards the docility of a boy is discovered his wisdom. His bear is perfect spell mistake carries away the unteachable. Tomorrow noesis volition back upwards him, spell the ignorant volition last destroyed.
As for the human without experience who listens not, he effects naught whatsoever. He sees noesis inwards ignorance, turn a profit inwards loss; he commits all kinds of error, e'er accordingly choosing the opposite of what is praiseworthy. He lives on that which is mortal, inwards this fashion. His nutrient is evil words, whereat he is filled amongst astonishment. That which the keen know to last mortal he lives upon every day, flight from that which would last profitable to him, because of the multitude of errors which nowadays themselves earlier him every day.
A boy who attends is similar a follower of Horus; he is happy afterwards having attended. He becomes great, he arrives at dignity, he gives the same lesson to his children. Let none innovate upon the precepts of his father; allow the same precepts shape his lessons to his children. "Verily," volition his children say to him, "to accomplish what you lot say industrial plant marvels." Cause hence that to flourish which is just, inwards club to nourish your children amongst it. If the teachers allow themselves to last led toward evil principles, verily the people who empathize them non volition beak accordingly, in addition to that beingness said to those who are docile they volition human activity accordingly. Then all the world considers them every bit masters in addition to they inspire confidence inwards the public; but their glory endures non so long every bit would delight them. Take non away in addition to so a news from the ancient teaching, in addition to add together non one; position non 1 thing inwards identify of another; beware of uncovering the rebellious ideas which arise inwards you; but learn according to the words of the wise. Attend if you lot wishing to dwell inwards the oral cavity of those who shall attend to your words, when you lot have got entered upon the purpose of master, that your words may last upon our lips . . . in addition to that at that spot may last a chair from which to deliver your arguments.
Let your thoughts last abundant, but allow your oral cavity last nether restraint, in addition to you lot shall fence amongst the great. Put yourself inwards unison amongst the ways of your master; crusade him to say: "He is my son," so that those who shall hear it shall say "Praise last to her who has borne him to him!" Apply yourself spell you lot speak; beak only of perfect things; in addition to allow the keen who shall hear you lot say: "Twice expert is that which issues from his mouth!"
Do that which your master copy bids you. Twice expert is the precept of his father, from whom he has issued, from his flesh. What he tells us, allow it last fixed inwards our heart; to satisfy him greatly allow us do for him to a greater extent than than he has prescribed. Verily a expert boy is 1 of the gifts of Ptah, a boy who does fifty-fifty improve than he has been told to do. For his master copy he does what is satisfactory, putting himself amongst all his pump on the constituent of right. So I shall convey it close that your trunk shall last healthful, that the Pharaoh shall last satisfied amongst you lot inwards all circumstances in addition to that you lot shall obtain years of life without default. It has caused me on Earth to obtain 1 hundred in addition to 10 years of life, along amongst the gift of the favor of the Pharoah amid the initiative off of those whom their industrial plant have got ennobled, satisfying the Pharoah inwards a identify of dignity.
It is finished, from its initiative off to its end, according to that which is found inwards writing.
You may kindly move for this mass "
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Source:
From: Charles F. Horne, The Sacred Books in addition to Early Literature of the East (New York: Parke, Austin, & Lipscomb, 1917), Vol. II: Egypt, pp. 62-78.
Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton
Source:http://wysinger.homestead.com/ptahhotep2.html
His maxims are inwards the Prisse Papyrus which are inwards the Louvre Museum. Another re-create of these is inwards the British Museum. It was written for the do goodness of his son, the designated heir of the vizier. He was expected to follow in addition to practise these wise directives inwards club to move a successful official of the state.
The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep is an example of the Egyptian controlled usage of the values of this world towards the achievement of happiness hither in addition to hereafter. This world oldest operate of philosophy known to us is the "Instructions of Ptah-hotep," land goes dorsum to 2880 B.C.—2300 years earlier Confucius, Socrates in addition to Buddha
THE PRECEPTS OF PTAH-HOTEP, 2200 BCE
THE OLDEST BOOK IN THE WORLD
fifth Dynasty
Precepts of the prefect, the lord Ptah-hotep, nether the Majesty of the King of the South in addition to North,
Assa, living eternally forever.
The prefect, the feudal lord Ptah-hotep, says: O Ptah amongst the ii crocodiles, my lord, the progress of historic menstruum changes into senility. Decay falls upon human in addition to decline takes the identify of youth. H5N1 vexation weighs upon him every day; sight fails, the ear becomes deaf; his strength dissolves without ceasing. The oral cavity is silent, spoken language fails him; the heed decays, remembering non the solar daytime before. The whole trunk suffers. That which is expert becomes evil; gustatory modality completely disappears. Old historic menstruum makes a human altogether miserable; the olfactory organ is stopped up, breathing no to a greater extent than from exhaustion. Standing or sitting at that spot is hither a status of . . . Who volition crusade me to have got potency to speak, that I may declare to him the words of those who have got heard the counsels of one-time days? And the counsels heard of the gods, who volition give me potency to declare them? Cause that it last so in addition to that evil last removed from those that are enlightened; send the double . . . The majesty of this god says: Instruct him inwards the sayings of one-time days. It is this which constitutes the merit of the children of the great. All that which makes the soul equal penetrates him who hears it, in addition to that which it says produces no satiety.
Beginning of the organization of the expert sayings, spoken yesteryear the noble lord, the divine father, dear of Ptah, the boy of the king, the first-born of his race, the prefect in addition to feudal lord Ptah-hotep, so every bit to instruct the ignorant inwards the noesis of the arguments of the expert sayings. It is profitable for him who hears them, it is a loss to him who shall transgress them. He says to his son:
Be non arrogant because of that which you lot know; bargain amongst the ignorant every bit amongst the learned; for the barriers of fine art are non closed, no creative soul beingness inwards possession of the perfection to which he should aspire. But expert words are to a greater extent than hard to uncovering than the emerald, for it is yesteryear slaves that that is discovered amid the rocks of pegmatite.
If you lot uncovering a disputant spell he is hot, in addition to if he is superior to you lot inwards ability, lower the hands, curvature the back, do non acquire into a passion amongst him. As he volition non allow you lot destroy his words, it is utterly incorrect to interrupt him; that proclaims that you lot are incapable of keeping yourself calm, when you lot are contradicted. If in addition to so you lot have got to do amongst a disputant spell he is hot, copy 1 who does non stir. You have got the wages over him if you lot maintain quiet when he is uttering evil words. "The improve of the ii is he who is impassive," say the bystanders, in addition to you lot are correct inwards the sentiment of the great.
If you lot uncovering a disputant spell he is hot, do non despise him because you lot are non of the same opinion. Be non angry against him when he is wrong; away amongst such a thing. He fights against himself; require him non farther to flatter your feelings. Do non amuse yourself amongst the spectacle which you lot have got earlier you; it is odious, it is mean, it is the constituent of a despicable soul so to do. As shortly every bit you lot allow yourself last moved yesteryear your feelings, combat this want every bit a thing that is reproved yesteryear the great.
If you lot have, every bit leader, to create upwards one's heed on the bear of a keen number of men, attempt the most perfect
manner of doing so that your ain bear may last without reproach. Justice is great, invariable, in addition to assured; it has non been disturbed since the historic menstruum of Ptah. To throw obstacles inwards the way of the laws is to opened upwards the way earlier violence. Shall that which is below gain the upper hand, if the unjust does non attain to the identify of justice? Even he who says: I choose for myself, of my ain free-will; but says not: I choose yesteryear virtue of my authority. The limitations of judge are invariable; such is the didactics which every human receives from his father.
Inspire non men amongst fear, else Ptah volition handle against you lot inwards the same manner. If whatsoever 1 asserts that he lives yesteryear such means, Ptah volition choose away the breadstuff from his mouth; if whatsoever 1 asserts that he enriches himself thereby, Ptah says: I may choose those riches to myself. If whatsoever 1 asserts that he beats others, Ptah volition terminate yesteryear reducing him to impotence. Let no 1 inspire men amongst fear; this is the volition of Ptah. Let 1 render sustenance for them inwards the lap of peace; it volition in addition to so last that they volition freely give what has been torn from them yesteryear terror.
If you lot are amid the persons seated at meat inwards the theatre of a greater human than yourself, choose that which he gives you, bowing to the ground. Regard that which is placed earlier you, but indicate non at it; regard it non frequently; he is a blameworthy soul who departs from this rule. Speak non to the keen human to a greater extent than than he requires, for 1 knows non what may last displeasing to him. Speak when he invites you lot in addition to your worth volition last pleasing. As for the keen human who has enough of agency of existence, his bear is every bit he himself wishes. He does that which pleases him; if he desires to repose, he realizes his intention. The keen human stretching forth his mitt does that to which other men do non attain. But every bit the agency of existence are nether the volition of Ptah, 1 tin non rebel against it.
If you lot are 1 of those who convey the messages of 1 keen human to another, accommodate yourself precisely to that wherewith he has charged you; perform for him the committee every bit he has enjoined you. Beware of altering inwards speaking the offensive words which 1 keen soul addresses to another; he who perverts the trustfulness of his way, inwards club to repeat only what produces pleasance inwards the words of every man, keen or small, is a detestable person.
If you lot are a farmer, assemble the crops inwards the land which the keen Ptah has given you, do non boast inwards the theatre of your neighbors; it is improve to brand oneself dreaded yesteryear one's deeds. As for him who, master copy of his ain way of acting, beingness all-powerful, seizes the goods of others similar a crocodile inwards the midst fifty-fifty of watchment, his children are an object of malediction, of scorn, in addition to of hatred on draw of piece of job concern human relationship of it, spell his virile soul parent is grievously distressed, in addition to every bit for the woman parent who has borne him, happy is some other rather than herself. But a human becomes a god when he is principal of a tribe which has confidence inwards next him.
If you lot abase yourself inwards obeying a superior, your bear is solely expert earlier Ptah. Knowing who you lot ought to obey in addition to who you lot ought to command, do non elevator upwards your pump against him. As you lot know that inwards him is authority, last respectful toward him every bit belonging to him. Wealth comes only at Ptah's ain good-will, in addition to his caprice only is the law; every bit for him who . . Ptah, who has created his superiority, turns himself from him in addition to he is overthrown.
Be active during the fourth dimension of your existence, do no to a greater extent than than is commanded. Do non spoil the fourth dimension of your activity; he is a blameworthy soul who makes a bad usage of his moments. Do non lose the daily chance of increasing that which your theatre possesses. Activity produces riches, in addition to riches do non endure when it slackens.
If you lot are a wise man, convey upwards a boy who shall last pleasing to Ptah. If he conforms his bear to your way in addition to occupies himself amongst your affairs every bit is right, do to him all the expert you lot can; he is your son, a soul attached to you lot whom your ain self has begotten. Separate non your pump from him.... But if he conducts himself sick in addition to transgresses your wish, if he rejects all counsel, if his oral cavity goes according to the evil word, strike him on the oral cavity inwards return. Give orders without hesitation to those who do wrong, to him whose temper is turbulent; in addition to he volition non deviate from the instantly path, in addition to at that spot volition last no obstruction to interrupt the way.
If you lot are employed inwards the larit, stand upwards or sit down rather than walk about. Lay downward rules for yourself from the first: non to absent yourself fifty-fifty when weariness overtakes you. Keep an oculus on him who enters announcing that what he asks is secret; what is entrusted to you lot is higher upwards appreciation, in addition to all opposite declaration is a affair to last rejected. He is a god who penetrates into a identify where no relaxation of the rules is made for the privileged.
If you lot are amongst people who display for you lot an extreme affection, saying: "Aspiration of my heart, aspiration of my heart, where at that spot is no remedy! That which is said inwards your heart, allow it last realized yesteryear springing upwards spontaneously. Sovereign master, I give myself to your opinion. Your yell is approved without speaking. Your trunk is total of vigor, your confront is higher upwards your neighbors." If in addition to so you lot are accustomed to this excess of flattery, in addition to at that spot last an obstruction to you lot inwards your desires, in addition to so your impulse is to obey your passion. But he who . . . according to his caprice, his soul is . . ., his trunk is . . . While the human who is master copy of his soul is superior to those whom Ptah has loaded amongst his gifts; the human who obeys his passion is nether the mightiness of his wife.
Declare your draw of bear without reticence; give your sentiment inwards the council of your lord; spell at that spot are people who plow dorsum upon their ain words when they speak, so every bit non to scandalise him who has position forrard a statement, in addition to reply non inwards this fashion: "He is the keen human who volition recognize the mistake of another; in addition to when he shall enhance his vox to oppose the other close it he volition maintain quiet afterwards what I have got said."
If you lot are a leader, setting forrard your plans according to that which you lot decide, perform perfect actions which posterity may remember, without letting the words prevail amongst you lot which multiply flattery, which excite pride in addition to make vanity.
If you lot are a leader of peace, hear to the discourse of the petitioner. Be non abrupt amongst him; that would problem him. Say non to him: "You have got already recounted this." Indulgence volition encourage him to accomplish the object of his coming. As for beingness abrupt amongst the complainant because he described what passed when the injury was done, instead of complaining of the injury itself allow it non be! The way to obtain a clear explanation is to hear amongst kindness.
If you lot want to excite honour inside the theatre you lot enter, for example the theatre of a superior, a friend, or whatsoever soul of consideration, inwards brusk everywhere where you lot enter, maintain yourself from making advances to a woman, for at that spot is naught expert inwards so doing. There is no prudence inwards taking constituent inwards it, in addition to thousands of men destroy themselves inwards club to savor a moment, brief every bit a dream, spell they gain death, so every bit to know it. It is a villainous intention, that of a human who thus excites himself; if he goes on to carry it out, his heed abandons him. For every bit for him who is without repugnance for such an act, at that spot is no expert sense at all inwards him.
If you lot want that your bear should last expert in addition to preserved from all evil, maintain yourself from every laid on of bad humor. It is a fatal malady which leads to discord, in addition to at that spot is no longer whatsoever existence for him who gives way to it. For it introduces discord betwixt fathers in addition to mothers, every bit good every bit betwixt brothers in addition to sisters; it causes the married adult woman in addition to the hubby to detest each other; it contains all kinds of wickedness, it embodies all kinds of wrong. When a human has established his merely equilibrium in addition to walks inwards this path, at that spot where he makes his dwelling, at that spot is no room for bad humor.
Be non of an irritable temper every bit regards that which happens at your side; grumble non over your ain affairs. Be non of an irritable temper inwards regard to your neighbors; improve is a compliment to that which displeases than rudeness. It is incorrect to acquire into a passion amongst one's neighbors, to last no longer master copy of one's words. When at that spot is only a piffling irritation, 1 creates for oneself an disease for the fourth dimension when 1 volition 1 time again last cool.
If you lot are wise, facial expression afterwards your house; love your married adult woman without alloy. Fill her stomach, clothe her back; these are the cares to last bestowed on her person. Caress her, fulfil her desires during the fourth dimension of her existence; it is a kindness which does award to its possessor. Be non brutal; tact volition influence her improve than violence; her . . . behold to what she aspires, at what she aims, what she regards. It is that which fixes her inwards your house; if you lot repel her, it is an abyss. Open your arms for her, respond to her arms; telephone telephone her, display to her your love.
Treat your dependents well, inwards so far every bit it belongs to you lot to do so; in addition to it belongs to those whom Ptah has favored. If whatsoever 1 fails inwards treating his dependents good it is said: "He is a soul . . ." As nosotros do non know the events which may occur tomorrow, he is a wise soul yesteryear whom 1 is good treated. When at that spot comes the necessity of showing zeal, it volition in addition to so last the dependents themselves who say: "Come on, come upwards on," if expert handling has non quitted the place; if it has quitted it, the dependents are defaulters.
Do non repeat whatsoever extravagance of language; do non hear to it; it is a thing which has escaped from a hasty mouth. If it is repeated, look, without hearing it, toward the earth; say naught inwards regard to it. Cause him who speaks to you lot to know what is just, fifty-fifty him who provokes to injustice; crusade that which is merely to last done, crusade it to triumph. As for that which is intend according to the law, condemn it yesteryear unveiling it.
If you lot are a wise man, sitting inwards the council of your lord, direct your thought toward that which is wise. Be soundless rather than scatter your words. When you lot speak, know that which tin last brought against you. To beak inwards the council is an art, in addition to spoken language is criticized to a greater extent than than whatsoever other labor; it is contradiction which puts it to the proof.
If you lot are powerful, honour noesis in addition to calmness of language. Command only to direct; to last absolute is to encounter evil. Let non your pump last haughty, neither allow it last mean. Do non allow your orders rest unsaid in addition to crusade your answers to penetrate; but beak without heat, assume a serious countenance. As for the vivacity of an ardent heart, temper it; the gentle human penetrates all obstacles. He who agitates himself all the solar daytime long has non a expert moment; in addition to he who amuses himself all the solar daytime long keeps non his fortune. Aim at fulness similar pilots; 1 time 1 is seated some other works, in addition to seeks to obey one's orders.
Disturb non a keen man; weaken non the attending of him who is occupied. His attention is to encompass his task, in addition to he strips his soul through the love which he puts into it. That transports men to Ptah, fifty-fifty the love for the operate which they accomplish. Compose in addition to so your confront fifty-fifty inwards trouble, that peace may last amongst you, when agitation is amongst . . .These are the people who succeed inwards what they desire.
Teach others to homecoming homage to a keen man. If you lot assemble the crop for him amid men, crusade it to homecoming fully to its owner, at whose hands is your subsistence. But the gift of affection is worth to a greater extent than than the provisions amongst which your dorsum is covered. For that which the keen human receives from you lot volition enable your theatre to live, without speaking of the maintenance you lot enjoy, which you lot want to preserve; it is thereby that he extends a beneficent hand, in addition to that inwards your identify expert things are added to expert things. Let your love transcend into the pump of those who love you; crusade those close you lot to last loving in addition to obedient.
If you lot are a boy of the guardians deputed to spotter over the populace tranquillity, execute your committee without knowing its meaning, in addition to beak amongst firmness. Substitute non for that which the instructor has said what you lot believe to last his intention; the keen usage words every bit it suits them. Your constituent is to transmit rather than to comment upon.
If you lot are annoyed at a thing, if you lot are tormented yesteryear someone who is acting inside his right, move out of his sight, in addition to recall him no to a greater extent than when he has ceased to address you.
If you lot have got move keen afterwards having been little, if you lot have got move rich afterwards having been poor, when you lot are at the caput of the city, know how non to choose wages of the fact that you lot have got reached the initiative off rank, harden non your pump because of your elevation; you lot are move only the administrator, the prefect, of the provisions which belong to Ptah. Put non behind you lot the vecino who is similar you; last unto him every bit a companion.
Bend your dorsum earlier your superior. You are attached to the palace of the king; your theatre is established inwards its fortune, in addition to your profits are every bit is fitting. Yet a human is annoyed at having an potency higher upwards himself, in addition to passes the menstruum of life inwards beingness vexed thereat. Although that hurts non your . . . Do non plunder the theatre of your neighbors, seize non yesteryear forcefulness the goods which are beside you. Exclaim non in addition to so against that which you lot hear, in addition to do non experience humiliated. It is necessary to reverberate when 1 is hindered yesteryear it that the pressure level of potency is felt too yesteryear one's neighbor.
Do non brand . . . you lot know that at that spot are obstacles to the H2O which comes to its hinder part, in addition to that at that spot is no trickling of that which is inwards its bosom. Let it non . . . afterwards having corrupted his heart.
If you lot aim at polished manners, telephone telephone non him whom you lot accost. Converse amongst him particularly inwards such a way every bit non to annoy him. Enter on a give-and-take amongst him only afterwards having left him fourth dimension to saturate his heed amongst the dependent land of the conversation. If he lets his ignorance display itself, in addition to if he gives you lot all chance to disgrace him, process him amongst courtesy rather; proceed non to drive him into a corner; do non . . . the news to him; reply non inwards a crushing manner; compaction him not; worry him not; inwards club that inwards his plow he may non homecoming to the subject, but depart to the turn a profit of your conversation.
Let your countenance last cheerful during the fourth dimension of your existence. When nosotros reckon 1 departing from the storehouse who has entered inwards club to convey his portion of provision, amongst his confront contracted, it shows that his tummy is empty in addition to that potency is offensive to him. Let non that occur to you; it is . . .
Know those who are faithful to you lot when you lot are inwards depression estate. Your merit in addition to so is worth to a greater extent than than those who did you lot honor. His . . ., behold that which a human possesses completely. That is of to a greater extent than importance than his high rank; for this is a affair which passes from 1 to another. The merit of one's boy is advantageous to the father, in addition to that which he actually is, is worth to a greater extent than than the remembrance of his father's rank.
Distinguish the superintendent who directs from the workman, for manual labor is piffling elevated; the inaction of the hands is honorable. If a human is non inwards the evil way, that which places him at that spot is the want of subordination to authority.
Statue of Ptah-hotep, fifth Dynasty
If you lot choose a wife, do non . . . Let her last to a greater extent than contented than whatsoever of her fellow-citizens. She volition last attached to you lot doubly, if her chain is pleasant. Do non repel her; grant that which pleases her; it is to her contentment that she appreciates your work.
If you lot hear those things which I have got said to you, your wisdom volition last fully advanced. Although they are the agency which are suitable for arriving at the maat,, in addition to it is that which makes them precious, their retentiveness would recede from the oral cavity of men. But thank you lot to the beauty of their organization inwards beat all their words volition at nowadays last carried without alteration over this Earth eternally. That volition create a canvass to last embellished, whereof the keen volition speak, inwards club to instruct men inwards its sayings. After having listened to them the educatee volition move a master, fifty-fifty he who shall have got properly listened to the sayings because he shall have got heard them. Let him win success yesteryear placing himself inwards the initiative off rank; that is for him a spot perfect in addition to durable, in addition to he has naught farther to want forever. By noesis his path is assured, in addition to he is made happy yesteryear it on the earth. The wise human is satiated yesteryear knowledge; he is a keen human through his ain merits. His natural language is inwards accord amongst his mind; merely are his lips when he speaks, his eyes when he gazes, his ears when he hears. The wages of his boy is to do that which is merely without deceiving himself.
To attend hence profits the boy of him who has attended. To attend is the final result of the fact that 1 has attended. H5N1 teachable auditor is formed, because I have got attended. Good when he has attended, expert when he speaks, he who has attended has profited, in addition to it is profitable to attend to him who has attended. To attend is worth to a greater extent than than anything else, for it produces love, the expert thing that is twice good. The boy who accepts the didactics of his virile soul parent volition grow old on that account. What Ptah loves is that 1 should attend; if 1 attends not, it is abhorrent to Ptah. The pump makes itself its ain master copy when it attends in addition to when it does non attend; but if it attends, in addition to so his pump is a beneficent master copy to a man. In attending to instruction, a human loves what he attends to, in addition to to do that which is prescribed is pleasant. When a boy attends to his father, it is a twofold joy for both; when wise things are prescribed to him, the boy is gentle toward his master. Attending to him who has attended when such things have got been prescribed to him, he engraves upon his pump that which is approved yesteryear his father; in addition to the recollection of it is preserved inwards the oral cavity of the living who be upon this earth.
When a boy receives the didactics of his virile soul parent at that spot is no mistake inwards all his plans. Train your boy to last a teachable human whose wisdom is agreeable to the great. Let him direct his oral cavity according to that which has been said to him; inwards the docility of a boy is discovered his wisdom. His bear is perfect spell mistake carries away the unteachable. Tomorrow noesis volition back upwards him, spell the ignorant volition last destroyed.
As for the human without experience who listens not, he effects naught whatsoever. He sees noesis inwards ignorance, turn a profit inwards loss; he commits all kinds of error, e'er accordingly choosing the opposite of what is praiseworthy. He lives on that which is mortal, inwards this fashion. His nutrient is evil words, whereat he is filled amongst astonishment. That which the keen know to last mortal he lives upon every day, flight from that which would last profitable to him, because of the multitude of errors which nowadays themselves earlier him every day.
A boy who attends is similar a follower of Horus; he is happy afterwards having attended. He becomes great, he arrives at dignity, he gives the same lesson to his children. Let none innovate upon the precepts of his father; allow the same precepts shape his lessons to his children. "Verily," volition his children say to him, "to accomplish what you lot say industrial plant marvels." Cause hence that to flourish which is just, inwards club to nourish your children amongst it. If the teachers allow themselves to last led toward evil principles, verily the people who empathize them non volition beak accordingly, in addition to that beingness said to those who are docile they volition human activity accordingly. Then all the world considers them every bit masters in addition to they inspire confidence inwards the public; but their glory endures non so long every bit would delight them. Take non away in addition to so a news from the ancient teaching, in addition to add together non one; position non 1 thing inwards identify of another; beware of uncovering the rebellious ideas which arise inwards you; but learn according to the words of the wise. Attend if you lot wishing to dwell inwards the oral cavity of those who shall attend to your words, when you lot have got entered upon the purpose of master, that your words may last upon our lips . . . in addition to that at that spot may last a chair from which to deliver your arguments.
Let your thoughts last abundant, but allow your oral cavity last nether restraint, in addition to you lot shall fence amongst the great. Put yourself inwards unison amongst the ways of your master; crusade him to say: "He is my son," so that those who shall hear it shall say "Praise last to her who has borne him to him!" Apply yourself spell you lot speak; beak only of perfect things; in addition to allow the keen who shall hear you lot say: "Twice expert is that which issues from his mouth!"
Do that which your master copy bids you. Twice expert is the precept of his father, from whom he has issued, from his flesh. What he tells us, allow it last fixed inwards our heart; to satisfy him greatly allow us do for him to a greater extent than than he has prescribed. Verily a expert boy is 1 of the gifts of Ptah, a boy who does fifty-fifty improve than he has been told to do. For his master copy he does what is satisfactory, putting himself amongst all his pump on the constituent of right. So I shall convey it close that your trunk shall last healthful, that the Pharaoh shall last satisfied amongst you lot inwards all circumstances in addition to that you lot shall obtain years of life without default. It has caused me on Earth to obtain 1 hundred in addition to 10 years of life, along amongst the gift of the favor of the Pharoah amid the initiative off of those whom their industrial plant have got ennobled, satisfying the Pharoah inwards a identify of dignity.
It is finished, from its initiative off to its end, according to that which is found inwards writing.
You may kindly move for this mass "
The Wisdom of Ptah-Hotep: Spiritual Treasures from the Age of the Pyramids in addition to the Oldest Book inwards the World [Hardcover]
Christian Jacq
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Source:
From: Charles F. Horne, The Sacred Books in addition to Early Literature of the East (New York: Parke, Austin, & Lipscomb, 1917), Vol. II: Egypt, pp. 62-78.
Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton
Source:http://wysinger.homestead.com/ptahhotep2.html
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