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Who Do You Think Said These Words of Wisdom?
In my reading and listening, I came across a set of words of wisdom that very much impressed me. Reading them, it seems like the one who said them had a very good grasp of morality, and human behavior. The wise person who handed down these words was an important person, and wanted those who came after him to benefit from his knowledge. After reading the words below, can you guess who he might have been?
If you are a leader, take responsibility in the matters entrusted to you, and you will accomplish things of note.
If you are a man of authority, be patient when you are listening to the words of a petitioner; Do not dismiss him until he has completely unburdened himself of what he had planned to say to you.
Great is the Law.
All conduct should be so straight that you can measure it with a plumb-line.
Injustice exists in abundance, but evil can never succeed in the long run.
Punish with principle, teach meaningfully. The act of stopping evil leads to the lasting establishment of virtue.
Those whom God guides do not go wrong. Those whose boat He takes away cannot cross.
If you work hard, and if growth takes place as it should in the fields, it is because God has placed abundance in your hands.
Do not gossip in your neighbourhood, because people respect the silent.
If he who listens listens fully, then he who listens becomes he who understands.
As for the ignorant man who does not listen, he accomplishes nothing. He equates knowledge with ignorance, the useless with the harmful. He does everything which is detestable, so people get angry with him each day.
Only speak when you have something worth saying.
As for you, teach your disciple the words of tradition. May he act as a model for the children of the great, that they may find in him the understanding and justice of every heart that speaks to him, since man is not born wise.
A woman with happy heart brings equilibrium.
Love your wife with passion.
How wonderful is a son who obeys his father!
Do not repeat a slanderous rumour, do not listen to it.
He who has a great heart has a gift from God. He who obeys his stomach obeys the enemy.
So, can you guess who promulgated these words of wisdom?
I will let you have your guesses, and later in the comments I will reveal the truth of whose words they are.
Published in Culture
Sounds biblical, but it’s not. Still, from more ancient times…
Perhaps Ptahhotep?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maxims_of_Ptahhotep
Yep, you win. Ptah-hotep lived during the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty, around 2375-2350 BC. Worked for King Djedkare-Isesi. I heard Dominic Perry on the Egyptian History Podcast discussing him, and thought his maxims sounded timeless. And they are.
Pretty smart for a fellow who can’t keep his arms from falling off.
This is about me, isn’t it?
By gum, it is about me.
That was not worth reading. 😀
How wonderful to see that some things never change even over millennia. And how comical that leftists think they can socially-engineer human nature away.
You mean don’t change?
I was gonna guess Paul. That God line is odd for a polytheistic religion.
never mind ha
yes, edited. Thanks
I am too lazy to look it up, but perhaps this was written during one of the monotheistic interludes in Egyptian history. Akhenaten’s rule, perhaps.
Nope, written down during the Fifth Dynasty when he lived. Probably by his son, to whom the comments were directed. This is not all of the maxims, and others refer to gods.
You really should give a listen to the Egyptian History Podcast.
When the pharaoh speaks of “the God,” the reference is to the pharaoh.
The style of it seems to have influenced the style of Proverbs.
Egyptian rulers weren’t pharaohs yet, just kings. They did, however see themselves as equal to gods.
Oh, the things Ricochet know!
To be honest, it was a Google search on the second quote that led me to the answer.
I only missed by a millennia or two in the half dozen I’d have guessed. I guess wisdom doesn’t change much over the centuries. In contrast to stupidity? No. Historical ignorance makes bad old ideas seem innovative and clever.
May I once again put in a plug for the Egyptian History Podcast.