The Instructions of Ptah-Hotep



"To give a few words of Truth, And what you make of Them will be your Test."

Ptah-Hotep was the Vizier to King Isesi, who reigned during the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. 2540 b.c.e Here a few selctions of his Instructions, taken from The Wisdom of Ancient Egypt. By Josph Kaster.

"Be not arrogant because of your knowledge, and have no confidence in that you are a learned man. Take counsel with the ignorant as with the wise, for the limits of art cannot be reached, and no artist fully possesses his skill. Good words are more hidden then the prious green stones, and yet it may be found slave girls over the milstones."

" If you are a leader and give command to the multitude, strive after every excellence, until there be no fault in your nature. Truth is good and it's worth is lasting, and it has not been disturbed since the day of it's creator,[ Ma'at] whereas he who transgresses it's ordinances is punished. It lies as a right path in front of him who knows nothing. Wrong doing has never yet brought it's venture to port. Evil may indeed win wealth, but the strength of truth is that it endures, and the upright man says " It [Ma'at] is the property of my father."

"If you are one of the truest ones, whom one great man sends to another, act rightly in the matter when he sends you. You shall deliver the message as he saysit. Be not secretive concerning what may be said to you, and beware of any forgetfulness. Hold fast to the truth and overstep it not, even if you recount nothing that is gratifying. Beware also of worsening words, such as might make one great man contempitble to the other through the manner of speech of all men. "A great man,an insignificant one"--that is what th Ka abhors."

"Follow your Ka so long as live, and do not more then is said. [Let yourself be guided according to right conscience] Diminish not the time in which you follow the heart, for it is an abhorrence to the Ka if it's time is diminished."

"If you would prolong friendship in a house to which you have admittance, as master, or as brother, or as friend, into whatsoever place you enter, beware of approaching the women. It is not good in the place where this is done. Men are made fools by their gleaming-limbs of carnelian. [Men are made fools by a pretty face and body] A trifle, a little, the likeness of a dream, and death comes as the end of knowing her."

"If you look for a state of friendship, ask no questions, but draw near him and be with him alone. Prove his heart by a converstation. If he betrays anything that he has seen, or does anything with which you are vexed, then take heed,even in your anwsers.."