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Ptah-Hotep was a high civil magistrate and nobleman under a Pharaoh of the Fifth dynasty (probably about 2700 B.C.). The whole of his “Precepts” — of which only a small portion is here
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quoted — falls into 44 short chapters, and has the general style, concise, shrewd, practical, of the Hebrew “Book of Proverbs.” The “Precepts” has been called the oldest book in the world” — and there are surely very few which antedate it. Human nature five thousand years ago seems to have been distinctly like that of to-day, and many of Ptah-Hotep’s pithy admonitions are not without a twentieth century application.
[Ptah-Hotep] says unto his son, Be not arrogant because of what thou knowest: deal with the ignorant as with the learned; for the barriers of art are not closed, and no artist is in possession of the perfection to which he should aspire. But good words are harder to find than the emerald.
If thou findest a disputant while he is hot, and he the superior to thee in ability, lower the hands, bend the back, do not get into a passion with him. As he will not let thee destroy his words, it is utterly wrong to interrupt him. That proclaims that thou art incapable of keeping thyself calm when thou art contradicted.
If thou hast, as leader, to decide on the conduct of a great number of men, seek the most perfect manner of doing so, that thy own conduct be blameless. Justice is great, invariable and sure: it has not been disturbed since the age of Osiris [the golden age].
If thou art a farmer, gather the crops [?] in the field which the great God hath given thee, fill not thy mouth in the house of thy neighbors.
Be active in the time of thy existence, doing more than is commanded. Do not spoil the time of thy activity; he is a blameworthy man who makes a bad use of his moments. Lose not the daily opportunity to increase thy household substance. Activity produces riches, but riches endure not when activity slackens.
If thou art a wise man, bring up a son who shall be pleasing to God. . . .
Be not of an irritable temper as regards that which 17 happens beside thee. Grumble (?) not over thine own affairs. Be not of an irritable temper in regard to thy neighbors. Better is a compliment to that which displeases, than rudeness.
If thou art wise, look after thy house. Love thy wife without alloy. Fill her stomach, clothe her back, these are the cares to bestow upon her. Caress her, fulfill her desires during the time of her existence — it is a kindness which does honor to its possessor. . . . Tact will influence her better than violence.
If thou art a wise man sitting in the council of thy lord, direct thy thougths toward that which is wise. Be silent rather than scatter thy words. When thou speakest, know that which can be brought against thee. To speak in council is an art, and speech is criticised more than nay other labor. It is contradiction which puts it to the proof.
If thou hast become great after having been lowly, harden not thy heart because of thy elevation. Thou art become only the steward of the good things of God. Put not behind thee the neighbor who is like unto thee: be unto him as a companion.
Bend thy back before a superior. [If] thou art attached to the palace of the king, thy house is established in its fortune, and thy profits are as is fitting.
When a son receives the instruction of his father, there is no error in all his plans. Train thy son to be a teachable man whose wisdom is agreeable to the great. To-morrow knowledge will support him, while the ignorant will be destroyed.
A son who attends [to his father] is like a follower of [the god] Horus. He is happy after having attended. He becomes great; he arrives at dignity; he gives the same [wise] lesson to his children.
Let thy thoughts be abundant, but let thy mouth be under restraint; [then] thou shalt argue with the mighty.
1 This is a series of books edited by Professor A. H. Sayce and published in London. It should not be confused with the monthly magazine of the same name published in Washington.