Maxims of Ptahhotep

The Instruction of the Governor of his City, the

Vizier, Ptah-hotep, in the Reign of the King of

Upper and Lower Egypt, Izezi, living for ever,

to the end of Time.

A. The Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, he said : '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 nose is stopped,

and he breatheth not for weakness (?), whether

standing or sitting.

'Command me, thy servant, therefore, to make

over my princely authority [to my son]. Let me

speak unto him the words of them that hearken

to the counsel of the men of old time ; those that

once hearkened unto the gods. I pray thee, let

this thing be done, that sin may be banished

from among persons of understanding, that thou

may enlighten the lands.'

Said the Majesty of this God: ' 'Instruct him,

then, in the words of old time ; may he be a

wonder unto the children of princes, that they

may enter and hearken with him. Make straight

all their hearts ; and discourse with him, without

causing weariness.'

B. Here begin the proverbs of fair speech,

spoken by the Hereditary Chief, the Holy Father,

Beloved of the God, the Eldest Son of the King,

of his body, the Governor of his City, the Vizier,

Ptah-hotep, when instructing the ignorant in the

knowledge of exactness in fair-speaking ; the

glory of him that obeyeth, the shame of him that

transgresseth them.

He said unto his son :

1. 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.

2. If thou find an arguer talking, one that is

well disposed and wiser than thou, let thine arms

fall, bend thy back, be not angry with him if

he agree ( ? ) not with thee. Refrain from speaking

evilly ; oppose him not at any time when he

speaketh. If he address thee as one ignorant

of the matter, thine humbleness shall bear away

his contentions.

3. If thou find an arguer talking, thy fellow,

one that is within thy reach, keep not silence

when he saith aught that is evil ; so shalt thou

be wiser than he. Great will be the applause on

the part of the listeners, and thy name shall be

good in the knowledge of princes.

4. If thou find an arguer talking, a poor man,

that is to say not thine equal, be not scornful

toward him because he is lowly. Let him alone ;

then shall he confound himself. Question him

not to please thine heart, neither pour out thy

wrath upon him that is before thee ; it is shameful

to confuse a mean mind. If thou be about to

do that which is in thine heart, overcome it as a

thing rejected of princes.

6. If thou be a leader, as one directing the

conduct of the multitude, endeavour always to

be gracious, that thine own conduct be without

defect. Great is Truth, appointing a straight

path ; never hath it been overthrown since the

reign of Osiris. One that oversteppeth the laws

shall be punished. Overstepping is by the

covetous man ; but degradations (?) bear off

his riches. Never hath evil-doing brought its

venture safe to port. For he saith, 'I will

obtain by myself for myself,' and saith not,

'I will obtain because I am allowed.' , but the

limits of justice are steadfast ; it is that which

a man repeateth from his father.

6. Cause not fear among men ; for [this] the

God punisheth likewise. For there is a man

that saith, ' Therein is life ' ; and he is bereft of

the bread of his mouth. There is a man that

saith, ' Power [is therein] ' ; and he saith, ' I

seize for myself that which I perceive.' Thus a

man speaketh, and he is smitten down. It is

another that attaineth by giving unto him that

hath not. Never hath that which men have prepared for come to pass ; for what the God hath

commanded, even that thing cometh to pass.

Live, therefore, in the house of kindliness, and

men shall come and give gifts of themselves.

7. If thou be among the guests of a man that

is greater than thou, accept that which he giveth

thee, putting it to thy lips. If thou look at him

that is before thee (thine host), pierce him not

with many glances. It is abhorred of the soul

to stare at him. Speak not till he address thee ;

one knoweth not what may be evil in his opinion.

Speak when he questioneth thee ; so shall thy

speech be good in his opinion. The noble who

sitteth before food divideth it as his soul moveth

him ; he giveth unto him that he would favour —

it is the custom of the evening meal. It is his

soul that guideth his hand. It is the noble that

bestoweth, not the underling that attaineth,

Thus the eating of bread is under the providence of the God ; he is an ignorant man that

disputeth it,

8. If thou be an emissary sent from one noble

to another, be exact after the manner of him

that sent thee, give his message even as he hath

said it. Beware of making enmity by thy words,

setting one noble against the other by perverting

truth. Overstep it not, neither repeat that which

any man, be he prince or peasant, saith in opening

the heart ; it is abhorrent to the soul.

9. If thou have ploughed, gather thine harvest

in the field, and the God shall make it great

under thine hand. Fill not thy mouth at thy

neighbours' table. [lacuna] If a crafty man be the

possessor of wealth, he stealeth like a crocodile

from the priests.

Let not a man be envious that hath no children ;

let him be neither downcast nor quarrelsome on

account of it. For a father, though great, may

be grieved ; as to the mother of children, she

hath less peace than another. Verily, each man

is created [to his destiny] by the God, Who

is the chief of a tribe, trustful in following

him.

10. If thou be lowly, serve a wise man, that

all thine actions may be good before the God.

If thou have known a man of none account that

hath been advanced in rank, be not haughty

toward him on account of that which thou

knowest concerning him ; but honour him that

hath been advanced, according to that which

he hath become.

Behold, riches come not of themselves ; it

is their rule for him that desireth them. If he

bestir him and collect them himself, the God

shall make him prosperous ; but He shall punish

him, if he be slothful.

11. 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.

Shorten not the daytime more than is needful to

maintain thine house. When riches are gained,

follow the heart; for riches are of no avail if

one be weary.

12. If thou wouldest be a wise man, beget a

son for the pleasing of the God. If he make

straight his course after thine example, if he

arrange thine affairs in due order, do unto him

all that is good, for thy son is he, begotten of

thine own soul. Sunder not thine heart from

him, or thine own begotten shall curse [thee].

If he be heedless and trespass thy rules of

conduct, and is violent ; if every speech that

cometh from his mouth be a vile word ; then

beat thou him, that his talk may be fitting.

Keep him from those that make light of that

which is commanded, for it is they that make

him rebellious. And they that are guided go

not astray, but they that lose their bearings

cannot find a straight course.

13. If thou be in the chamber of council, act

always according to the steps enjoined on thee

at the beginning of the day. Be not absent, or

thou shalt be expelled ; but be ready in entering

and making report. Wide is the seat of one

that hath made address. The council-chamber

acteth by strict rule ; and all its plans are in

accordance with method. It is the God that

advanceth one to a seat therein ; the like is not

done for elbowers.

14. If thou be among people, make for thyself

love, the beginning and end of the heart. One

that knoweth not his course shall say in himself

(seeing thee), *He that ordereth himself duly

becometh the owner of wealth ; I shall copy his

conduct.' Thy name shall be good, though thou

speak not ; thy body shall be fed ; thy face shall

be [seen] among thy neighbours ; thou shalt be

provided with what thou lackest. As to the man

whose heart obeyeth his belly, he causeth disgust

dn place of love. His heart is wretched (?), his

body is gross (?), he is insolent toward those

endowed of the God. He that obeyeth his belly

hath an enemy.

15. Report thine actions without concealment ;

discover thy conduct when in council with thine

overlord. It is not evil for the envoy that his

report be not answered, 'Yea, I know it,' by

the prince ; for that which he knoweth includeth

not [this]. If he (the prince) think that he will

oppose him on account of it, [he thinketh] He

will be silent because I have spoken.'

16. If thou be a leader, cause that the rules

that thou hast enjoined be carried out ; and do

all things as one that remembereth the days

coming after, when speech availeth not. Be not

lavish of favours ; it leadeth to servility (?),

producing slackness.

17. If thou be a leader, 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. If he hesitate to open his heart,

it is said, 'Is it because he (the judge) doeth the

wrong that no entreaties are made to him concerning it by those to whom it happeneth ?

But a well-taught heart hearkeneth readily.

18. If thou desire to continue friendship in

any abode wherein thou enterest, be it as master,

as brother, or as friend ; wheresoever thou goest,

beware of consorting with women. No place

prospereth wherein that is done. Nor is it

prudent to take part in it ; a thousand men have

been ruined for the pleasure of a little time short

as a dream. Even death is reached thereby ; it

is a wretched thing. As for the evil liver, one

leaveth him for what he doeth, he is avoided.

If his desires be not gratified, he regardeth (?) no

laws.

19. If thou desire that thine actions may

be good, save thyself from all malice, and

beware of the quality of covetousness, which is a

grievous inner (?) malady. Let it not chance

that thou fall thereinto. It setteth at variance

fathers-in-law and the kinsmen of the daughterin-law ; it sundereth the wife and the husband.

It gathereth unto itself all evils ; it is the girdle

of all wickedness. But the man that is just

flourisheth ; truth goeth in his footsteps, and he

maketh habitations therein, not in the dwelling

of covetousness.

20. Be not covetous as touching shares, in

seizing that which is not thine own property.

Be not covetous toward thy neighbours ; for

with a gentle man praise availeth more than

might. He [that is covetous] cometh empty from

among his neighbours, being void of the persuasion of speech. One hath remorse for even

a little covetousness when his belly cooleth.

21. If thou wouldest be wise, provide for thine

house, and love thy wife that is in thine arms.

Fill her stomach, clothe her back ; oil is the

remedy of her limbs. Gladden her heart during

thy lifetime, for she is an estate profitable unto

its lord. Be not harsh, for gentleness mastereth

her more than strength. Give (?) to her that for

which she sigheth and that toward which her

eye looketh ; so shalt thou keep her in thine house. [lacuna]

22. Satisfy thine hired servants out of such

things as thou hast ; it is the duty of one that hath

been favoured of the God. In sooth, it is hard

to satisfy hired servants. For one saith, He

is a lavish person ; one knoweth not that which

may come [from him].' But on the morrow he

thinketh, 'He is a person of exactitude (parsimony), content therein.' And when favours

have been shown unto servants, they say, 'We

go.' Peace dwelleth not in that town wherein

dwell servants that are wretched.

23. Repeat not extravagant speech, neither

listen thereto ; for it is the utterance of a body

heated by wrath. When such speech is repeated

to thee, hearken not thereto, look to the ground.

Speak not regarding it, that he that is before thee

may know wisdom. If thou be commanded to do

a theft, bring it to pass that the command be

taken off thee, for it is a thing hateful according

to law. That which destroyeth a vision is the

veil over it.

24. If thou wouldest be a wise man, and one

sitting in council with his overlord, apply thine

heart unto perfection. Silence is more profitable

unto thee than abundance of speech. Consider

how thou may be opposed by an expert that

speaketh in council. It is a foolish thing to speak

on every kind of work, for he that disputeth thy

words shall put them unto proof.

25. If thou be powerful, make thyself to be

honoured for knowledge and for gentleness.

Speak with authority, that is, not as if following

injunctions, for he that is humble (when highly

placed) falleth into errors. Exalt not thine

heart, that it be not brought low. Be not silent,

but beware of interruption and of answering

words with heat. Put it far from thee ; control

thyself. The wrathful heart speaketh fiery

words ; it darteth out at the men of peace that

approacheth, stopping his path.

One that reckoneth accounts all the day

passeth not an happy moment. One that gladdeneth his heart all the day provideth not for his

house. The bowman hitteth the mark, as the

steersman reacheth land, by diversity of aims.

He that obeyeth his heart shall command.

26. Let not a prince be hindered when he is

occupied ; neither oppress the heart of him that

is already laden. For he shall be hostile toward

one that delayeth him, but shall bare his soul

onto one that loveth him. The disposal of souls

is with the God, and that which He loveth

is His creation. Set out, therefore, after a

violent quarrel ; be at peace with him that is

hostile unto [thee] his opponent. It is such

souls that make love to grow.

27. Instruct a noble in such things as be

profitable unto him ; cause that he be received

among men. Let his satisfaction fall on his

master, for thy provision dependeth upon his

will. By reason of it thy belly shall be satisfied ;

thy back will be clothed thereby. Let him

receive thine heart, that thine house may flourish

and thine honour — if thou wish it to flourish —

thereby. He shall extend thee a kindly hand.

Further, he shall implant the love of thee in the

bodies of thy friends. Forsooth, it is a soul

loving to hearken.

28. If thou be the son of a man of the priesthood, and an envoy to conciliate the multitude,

. . . .' speak thou without favouring one side.

Let it not be said, 'His conduct is that of the

nobles, favouring one side in his speech.' Turn

thine aim toward exact judgments.

29. If thou have been gracious at a former

time, having forgiven a man to guide him aright,

shun him, remind him not after the first day

that he hath been silent to thee [concerning it].

30. If thou be great after being of none

account, and hast gotten riches after squalor,

being foremost in these in the city, and hast

knowledge concerning useful matters, so that

promotion is come unto thee; then swathe not

thine heart in thine hoard, for thou art become

the steward of the endowments of the God.

Thou art not the last ; another shall be thine

equal, and to him shall come the like [fortune and

station].

31. Bend thy back unto thy chief, thine overseer in the King's palace, for thine house dependeth upon his wealth, and thy wages in their

season. How foolish is one that quarrelleth with

his chief, for one liveth only while he is

gracious. . . .

Plunder not the houses of tenants ; neither

steal the things of a friend, lest he accuse thee

in thine hearing, which thrusteth back the

heart. If he know of it, he will do thee an injury.

Quarrelling in place of friendship is a foolish

thing.

32. [Concerning unnatural sin].

33. If thou wouldest seek out the nature of

a friend, ask it not of any companion of his ; but

pass a time with him alone, that thou injure not

his affairs. Debate with him after a season ; test

his heart in an occasion of speech. When he

hath told thee his past life, he hath made an

opportunity that thou may either be ashamed

for him or be familiar with him. Be not reserved

with him when he openeth speech, neither answer

him after a scornful manner. Withdraw not

thyself from him, neither interrupt (?) him

whose matter is not yet ended, whom it is possible

to benefit.

34. Let thy face be bright what time thou

livest. That which goeth into the storehouse

must come out therefrom; and bread is to be

shared. He that is grasping in entertainment shall

himself have an empty belly ; he that causeth

strife cometh himself to sorrow. Take not such

an one for thy companion. It is a man's kindly

acts that are remembered of him in the years after

his life.

36. Know well thy merchants ; for when thine

affairs are in evil case, thy good repute among

thy friends is a channel (?) which is filled. It is

more important than the dignities of a man ; and

the wealth of one passeth to another. The good

repute of a man's son is a glory unto him ; and

a good character is for remembrance.

36. Correct chiefly ; instruct conformably

[therewith]. Vice must be drawn out, that virtue

may remain. Nor is this a matter of misfortune,

for one that is a gainsayer becometh a strifemaker.

37. If thou make a woman to be ashamed,

wanton of heart, one known by her townsfolk

to be falsely placed, be kind unto her for a space,

send her not away, give her to eat. The wantonness of her heart shall esteem thy guidance.

C. If thou obey these things that I have said

unto thee, all thy demeanour shall be of the best ;

for, verily, the quality of truth is among their

excellences. Set the memory of them in the

mouths of the people; for their proverbs are

good. Nor shall any word that hath here been

set down cease out of this land for ever, but

shall be made a pattern whereby princes shall

speak well. They (my words) shall instruct a

man. how he shall speak, after he hath heard

them ; yea, he shall become as one skilful in

obeying, excellent in speaking, after he hath

heard them. Good fortune shall befall him, for

he shall be of the highest rank. He shall be

gracious to the end of his life ; he shall be contented always. His knowledge shall be his

guide (?) into a place of security, wherein he

shall prosper while on earth. The scholar shall

be content in his knowledge. As to the prince,

in his turn, forsooth, his heart shall be happy,

his tongue made straight. And [in these proverbs] his lips shall speak, his eyes shall see, and

his ears shall hear, that which is profitable for

his son, so that he deal justly, void of deceit.

38. A splendid thing is the obedience of

an obedient son ; he cometh in and listeneth

obediently.

Excellent in hearing, excellent in speaking, is

every man that obeyeth what is noble ; and the

obedience of an obeyer is a noble thing.

Obedience is better than all things that are ;

it maketh good-will.

How good it is that a son should take that

from his father by which he hath reached old

age (Obedience).

That which is desired by the God is obedience ;

disobedience is abhorred of the God.

Verily, it is the heart that maketh its master

to obey or to disobey; for the safe and sound

life of a man are his heart.

It is the obedient man that obeyeth what is

said ; he that loveth to obey, the same shall carry

out commands.

He that obeyeth becometh one obeyed.

It is good indeed when a son obeyeth his

father ; and he (his father) that hath spoken

hath great joy of it. Such a son shall be mild

as a master, and he that heareth him shall obey

him that hath spoken. He shall be comely in

body and honoured by his father. His memory

shall be in the mouths of the living, those upon

earth, as long as they exist.

39. Let a son receive the word of his father,

not being heedless of any rule of his. Instruct

thy son [thus] ; for the obedient man is one that

is perfect in the opinion of princes. If he direct

his mouth by what hath been enjoined him,

watchful and obedient, thy son shall be wise, and

his goings seemly. Heedlessness leadeth unto

disobedience on the morrow ; but understanding

crushed.

40. As for the fool, devoid of obedience, he

doeth nothing. Knowledge he regardeth as

ignorance, profitable things as hurtful things.

He doeth all kind of errors, so that he is rebuked

therefor every day. He liveth in death therewith ; it is his food. At chattering speech he

marvelleth, as at the wisdom of princes, living

in death every day. He is shunned because of

his misfortunes, by reason of the multitude of

afflictions that cometh upon him every day.

41. A son that hearkeneth is as a Follower

of Horus. He is good after he hearkeneth ; he

groweth old, he reacheth honour and reverence.

He repeateth in like manner to his sons and

daughters, so renewing the instruction of his

father. Each man instructeth as did his begetter,

repeating it unto his children. Let them [in turn]

speak with their sons and daughters, that they

may be famous in their deeds. Let that which

thou speakest implant true things and just in

the life of thy children. Then the highest

authority shall arrive, and sins depart [from

them]. And such men as see these things shall

say, ' Surely that man hath spoken to good

purpose,' and they shall do likewise ; or, ' But

surely that man was experienced.' And all

people shall declare, ' It is they that shall direct

the multitude ; dignities are not complete without

them.'

Take not any word away, neither add one;

set not one in the place of another. Beware of

opening . . . in thyself.

Be wary of speech when a learned man

hearkeneth unto thee ; desire to be stablished

for good in the mouth of those that hear thee

speaking. If thou have entered as an expert,

speak with exact (?) lips, that thy conduct may

be seemly.

42. Be thine heart overflowing ; but refrain

thy mouth. Let thy conduct be exact while

amongst nobles, and seemly before thy lord,

doing that which he hath commanded. Such

a son shall speak unto them that hearken to

him ; moreover, his begetter shall be favoured.

Apply thine heart, what time thou speakest, to

saying things such that the nobles who listen

declare, 'How excellent is that which cometh

out of his mouth I'

43. Carry out the behest of thy lord to thee.

How good is the teaching of a man's father, for

he hath come from him, who hath spoken of his

son while he was yet unborn ; and that which

is done for him (the son) is more than that which

is commanded him. Forsooth, a good son is of

the gift of the God ; he doeth more than is

enjoined on him, he doeth right, and putteth

his heart into all his goings.

D. If now thou attain my position, thy body

shall flourish; the King shall be content in all

that thou doest, and thou shalt gather years of

life not fewer than I have passed upon earth.

I have gathered even fivescore and ten years of

life, for the King hath bestowed upon me

favours more than upon my forefathers ; this

because I wrought truth and justice for the King

unto mine old age.

IT IS FINISHED

FROM ITS BEGINNING TO ITS END,

EVEN AS FOUND IN WRITING.