Ptahhotep Ptah-hotep

c. 24th century BC

O Prince, my Lord, the end of life is at hand; old age descendeth [upon me]; feebleness cometh, and childishness is renewed. He [that is old] lieth down in misery every day. The eyes are small; the ears are deaf. Energy is diminished, the heart hath no rest. The mouth is silent, and he speaketh no word; the heart stoppeth, and he remembereth not yesterday. The bones are painful throughout the body; good turneth unto evil. All taste departeth. These things doeth old age for mankind, being evil in all things.

The Instruction of Ptahhotep, the prologue · in place of the original: the English translation by Battiscombe Gunn (1906)

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c. 24th century BC

Be not proud because thou art learned; but discourse with the ignorant man, as with the sage. For no limit can be set to skill, neither is there any craftsman that possesseth full advantages. Fair speech is more rare than the emerald that is found by slave-maidens on the pebbles.

The Instruction of Ptahhotep, the first teaching · in place of the original: the English translation by Battiscombe Gunn (1906)

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c. 24th century BC

Follow thine heart during thy lifetime; do not more than is commanded thee. Diminish not the time of following the heart; it is abhorred of the soul, that its time [of ease] be taken away.

The Instruction of Ptahhotep, the eleventh teaching · in place of the original: the English translation by Battiscombe Gunn (1906)

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c. 24th century BC · Advice to one who leads others

Be gracious when thou hearkenest unto the speech of a suppliant. Let him not hesitate to deliver himself of that which he hath thought to tell thee; but be desirous of removing his injury. Let him speak freely, that the thing for which he hath come to thee may be done.

The Instruction of Ptahhotep, the seventeenth teaching · in place of the original: the English translation by Battiscombe Gunn (1906)

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