TheTeachings

of
PtahHotep

TheseareinstructionsbytheMayoroftheCitywhoisalsotheVizier.HisnameisPtahhotepand
heservesunderPharoahAssawholivesforalleternity.ThemayoroftheCity,VizierPtahhotep,
addressedtheSupremeDivinity,theDietyasfollows:

"Goduponthecrocodiles."(ReferencetoHeru)whoissometimesshownstandingontwo
crocodiles.MyGod,theprocessofagingbringssenility.Myminddecaysandforgetfulnessofthe
thingsofyesterdayhasalreadybegun.Feeblenesshascomeandweaknessgrows.Childlikeone
sleepsallday.Theeyesaredimandtheearsarebecomingdeaf.Thestrengthisbeingsapped.
Themouthhasgrownsilentanddoesnotspeak.Thebonesachethroughandthrough.Good
thingsnowseemevil.Thetasteisgone.Whatoldagedoestopeopleineviliseverything.The
noseiscloggedanddoesnotbreath.Itispainfuleventostandortosit.Mayyourservantbe
authorizedtousethestatusthatoldageaffords,toteachthehearers,soastotellthemthe
wordsofthosewhohavelistenedtothewaysofourancestors,andofthosewhohavelistened
totheGods.MayIdothisforyou,sothatstrifemaybebannedfromamongourpeople,andso
thattheTwoShoresmayserveyou?

ThenthemajestyoftheDietysaidtoPtahhotep,goaheadandinstructhimintheAncient
Wisdom.Mayhebecomeamodelforthechildrenofthegreat.Mayobedienceenterintohim,
andmayhebedevotedtotheonewhospeakstohim.Nooneisbornwise.

AndsobeginstheformulationofMdwNtr,goodspeech,tobespokenbythePrince,theCount,
God'sbeloved,theeldestsonofthePharoah,thesonofhisbody,MayoroftheCityandVizier,
Ptahhotep,instructstheignorantintheknowledgeandinthestandardsofgoodspeech.Itwill
profitthosewhohear.Itwillbealosstothosewhotransgress.Ptahhotepbegantospeakto
"Pharoah'sson"(toposterity).

1.Donotbeproudandarrogantwithyourknowledge.Consultandconversewithignorantand
thewise,forthelimitsofartarenotreached.Noartisteverpossessesthatperfectiontowhich
heshouldaspire.Goodspeechismorehiddenthangreenstone(emeralds),yetitmaybefound
amongmaidsatthegrindstones.

2.Ifyoumeetadisputantintheheatofaction,onewhomorepowerfulthanyou,simplyfold
yourarmsandbendyourback.Toconfronthimwillnotmakehimagreewithyou.Payno
attentiontohisevilspeech.Ifyoudonotconfronthimwhileheisraging,peoplewillcallhiman
ignoramus.Yourselfcontrolwillbethematchforhisevilutterances.

3.Ifyoumeetadisputantinaction,onewhoisyourequal,onewhoisonyourlevel,youwill
overcomehimbybeingsilentwhileheisspeakingevilly.Therewillbemuchtalkamongthose
whohearandyournamewillbeheldinhighregardamongthegreat.

4.Ifyoumeetadisputantinactionwhoisapoormanandwhoisnotyourequaldonotattack
himbecauseheisweak.Leavehimalone.Hewillconfoundhimself.Donotanswerhimjustso
thatyoucanrelieveyourownheart.Donotventyourselfagainstyouropponent.Wretchedishe
whoinjuresapoorman.Ifyouignorehimlisternerswillwishtodowhatyouwant.Youwillbeat
himthroughtheirreproof.

5.Ifyouareamanwholeads,amanwhocontrolstheaffairsofmany,thenseekthemost
perfectwayofperformingyourresponsibilitysothatyourconductwillbeblameless.Greatis
Maat(truth,justice,andrighteousness).Itiseverlasting.Maathasbeenunchangedsincethe
timeofOsiris.Tocreateobstaclesotthefollowingoflaws,istoopenawaytoaconditionof
violence.Thetransgressoroflawsispunished,althoughthegreedypersonoverlooksthis.

Basenessmayobtainriches,yetcrimeneverlandsitswaresontheshore.IntheendonlyMaat
lasts.Mansays,"Maatismyfather'sground."

6.Donotschemeagainstpeople.Godwillpunishaccordingly;Ifamansays,"Iwillliveby
scheming,"hewilllackbreadforhismouth.Ifamansays,"Iwillberich,"hewillhavetosay,
"Myclevernesshastrappedme."Ifhesays,"Iwilltrapformyself"hewill
notbeabletosay,"Itrappedformyself"hewillnotbeabletosay,"Itrappedformyprofit."Ifa
mansays,"Iwillrobsomeone,"hewiillendbybeinggiventoastranger.Peopleschemesdonot
prevail.God'scommandiswhatprevails.Therefore,liveinthemidstofpeace.WhatGodgives
comesbyitself.

7.Ifyouareoneamongguestsatthetableofpersonwhoismorepowerfulthanyou,takewhat
thatpersongivesjustasitissetbeforeyou.Lookatwhatisbeforeyou.Don'tstareatyourhost.
Don'tspeaktohimuntilheasks.Onedoesnotknowwhatmaydispleasehim.Speakwhenhe
hasspokentoyou.Thenyourwordswillpleasetheheart.Themanwhohasplentyofthemeans
ofexistenceactsashisKacommands.Hewillgivefoodtothosewhohefavors.ItistheKathat
makeshishandstretchout.Thegreatmangivestothechosenman,thuseatingisunderthe
directionofGod.Itisafoolwhocomplainsaboutit.

8.Ifyouareapersonoftrustsentbyonegreatpersontoanothergreatperson,becarefulto
sticktotheessenceofthemessagethatyouwereaskedtotransmit.Givethemessageexactly
ashegaveittoyou.Guardagainstprovocativespeechwhichmakesonegreatpersonangrywith
another.Justkeeptothetruth.Donotexceedit.However,eventhoughtheremayhavebeenan
outburstinthemessageyoushouldnotrepeatit.Donotmalignanyone,greatorsmall,theKa
abhorsit.

9.IfyouplowandifthereisgrowthinyourfieldandGodletsitprosperinyouhand,don'tboast
toyourneighbor.Onehasgreatrespectforthesilentperson.Apersonofcharacterisaperson
ofwealth.Ifthatpersonrobs,heorshelikeacrocodileinthemiddleofthewaters.IfGodgives
youchildren,don'timposeononewhohasnochildren.Neithershouldyoudecryorbragabout
havingyourownchildren,forthereismanyafatherwhohasgriefandmanyamotherwith
childrenwhoislesscontentwhananother.ItisthelonelywhomGodnurtureswhilethefamily
manpraysforafollower.

10.Ifyouarepoor,thenserveapersonofworthsothatyourconductmaybewellwithGod.Do
notbringupthefactthathewasoncepoor.Donotbearroganttowardshimjustbecauseyou
knowabouthisformerstate.Respecthimnowforhispositionofauthority.Asforfortune,it
obeysitsownlawandthatisherwill.ItisGod'sgift.ItisGodwhomakeshimworthyandwho
protectshimwhilhesleeps,orwhocanturnawayfromhim.

11.Followyourheartaslongasyoulive.Domorethanisrequiredofyou.Donotshortenthe
timeof"followtheheart",sincethatoffendstheKa.Don'twastetimeondailycaresoverand
beyondprovidingforyourhousehold.Whenwealthfinallycomes,thenfollowyourheart.
Weatlhdoesnogoodifyouareglum.

12.Ifyouareawiseman,trainupasonwhowillbepleasingtoGod.Ifheisstraightandtakes
afteryou,takegoodcareofhim.Doeverythingthatisgoodforhim.Heisyourson,yourKa
begothim.Don'twithdrawyourheartfromhim.Butanoffspringcanmaketrouble.Ifyourson
straysandneglectsyourcouncilanddisobeysallthatissaid,withhismouthspoutingevil
speech,thenpunishhimforallhistalk.Godwillhatehimwhocrossesyou.Hisguiltwas
determinedinthewomb.HewhoGodmakesboatlesscannotcrossthewater.

13.Ifyouareaguardinthestorehouse,standorsitratherthanleaveyourpostandtrepassinto
someoneselse'splace.Followthisrulefromthefirst.Neverleaveyourpost,evenwhen
fatigued.Keenisthefacetohimwhoentersannounced,andspaciousistheseatofhimwhohas
beenaskedtocomein.Thestorehousehasfixedrules.Allbehaviourisstrictlybytherule.Onlya
Godcanpenetratethesecurewarehousewheretherulesarefollowed,evenbyprivileged
persons.

14.Ifyouareamongthepeoplethengainyoursupportersbybuildingtrust.Thetrustedmanis
onewhodoesnotspeakthefirstthingthatcomestomind;andhewillbecomealeader.Aman
ofmeanshasagoodname,andhisfaceisbenign.Peoplewillpraisehimevenwithouthis
knowledge.Ontheotherhand,hewhoseheartobeyshisbellyasksforcontemptofhimselfin
theplaceoflove.Hisheartisnaked.Hisbodyisunanointed.ThegreatheartedisagiftofGod.
Hewhoisruledbyhisappetitebelongstotheenemy.

15.Reportthethingthatyouwerecommissionedtoreportwithouterror.Giveyouradvicein
thehighcouncil.Ifyouarefluentinyourspeech,itwillnotbehardforyoutoreport.Norwill
anyonesayofyou,"whoishetoknowthis?"Astotheauthories,theiraffairswillfailifthey
punishyouforspeakingtruth.Theyshouldbesilentuponhearingthereportthatyouhave
renderedasyouhavebeentold.

16.Ifyouareamanwholeads,amanwhoseauthorityreacheswidely,theyyoushoulddo
perfectthings,thosewhichposteritywillremember.Don'tlistentothewordsofflatterersorto
wordsthatpuffyouupwithprideandvanity.

17.Ifyouareapersonwhojudges,listencarefullytothespeechofonewhopleads.Don'tstop
thepersonfromtellingyoueverythingthattheyhadplannedtotellyou.Apersonindistress
wantstopourouthisorherheart,evenmorethantheywanttheircasetobewon.Ifyouare
onewhostopsapersonwhoispleading,thatpersonwillsay"whydoesherejectmyplea?"Of
coursenotallthatonepleadsforcanbegranted,butagoodhearingsoothestheheart.The
meansforgettingatrueandclearexplanationistolistenwithkindness.

18.Ifyouwantfriendshiptoendureinthehousethatyouenter,thehouseofamaster,ofa
brotherorofafriend,theninwhateverplaceyouenterbewareofapproachingthewomen
there.Unhappyistheplacewherethisisdone.Unwelcomeishewhointrudesonthem.A
thousandmenareturnedawayfromtheirgoodbecauseofashortmomentthatislikeadream,
andthenthatmomentisfollowedbydeaththatcomesfromhavingknownthatdream.Anyone
whoencouragesyoutakeadvantageofthesituationgivesyoupooradvice.Whenyougotodo
it,yourheartsaysno.Ifyouareonewhofailsthroughthelustofwomen,thennoaffairofyours
canprosper.

19.Ifyouwanttohaveperfectconduct,tobefreefromeveryevil,thenaboveallguardagainst
theviceofgreed.Greedisagrievoussicknessthathasnocure.Thereisnotreatmentforit.It
embroilsfathers,mothersandthebrothersofthemother.Itpartsthewifefromthehusband.
Greedisacompoundofalltheevils.Itisabundleofallhatefulthings.Thatpersonendures
whoseruleisrighteous,whowalksastraightline,forthatpersonwillleavealegacybysuch
behavior.Ontheotherhand,thegreedyhasnotomb.

20.Donotbegreedyinthedivisionofthings.Donotcovetmorethanyourshare.Don'tbe
greedytowardsyourrelatives.Amildpersonhasagreaterclaimthantheharshone.Pooristhe
personwhoforgetshisrelatives.Heisdeprivedoftheircompany.Evenalittlebitofwhatis
wantedwillturnaquarrelerintoafriendlyperson.

21.Whenyouprosperandestablishyourhome,loveyourwifewithardor.Thenfillherbellyand
clotheherback.Caressher.Giveheroitmentstosootheherbody.Fulfillherwishesforaslong
asyoulive.Sheisafertilefieldforherhusband.Donotbebrutal.Goodmannerswillinfluence
herbetterthanforce.Donotcontendwithherinthecourts.Keepherfromtheneedtoresortto
outsidepowers.Hereyeisherstormwhenshegazes.Itisbysuchtreatmentthatshewillbe
compelledtostayinyourhouse.

22.Helpyourfriendswiththingsthatyouhave,foryouhavethesethingsbythegraceofGod.If
youfailtohelpyourfriends,onewillsayyouhaveaselfishKa.Oneplansfortommorow,but
youdonotknowwhattomorrowwillbring.Therightsoulisthesoulbywhichoneissustained.
Ifyoudopraiseworthydeedsyourfriendswillsay,"welcome"inyoutimeofneed.

23.Don'trepeatslandernorshouldyouevenlistentoit.Itisthespoutingofthehotbellied.Just
reportathingthathasbeenobserved,notsomethingthathasbeenheardsecondhand.Ifitis
somethingnegligible,don'tevensayanything.Hewhoisstandingbeforeyouwillrecognizeyour
worth.Slanderislikeaterribledreamagainstwhichonecoverstheface.

24.Ifyouareamanofworthwhositsatthecouncilofaleader,concentrateonbeingexcellent.
Yoursilenceismuchbetterthanboasting.Speakwhenyouknowthatyouhaveasolution.Itis
theskilledpersonwhoshouldspeakwhenincouncil.Speakingisharderthanallotherwork.The
onewhounderstandsthismakesspeechaservant.

25.Ifyouaremightyandpowerfulthengainrespectthroughknowledgeandthroughyour
gentlenessofspeech.Don'torderthingsexceptasitisfitting.Theonewhoprovokesothersgets
intotrouble.Don'tbehaughtylestyoubehumbled.Butalsodon'tbemutelestyoubechided.
Whenyouansweronewhoisfuming,turnyourfaceandcontrolyourself.Theflameofthehot

heartedsweepsacrosseverything.Buthewhostepsgently,hispathisapavedroad.Hewhois
agitatedalldayhasnohappymomentsbuthewhoamuseshimselfalldaycan'tkeephis
fortune.

26.Donotdisturbagreatmanordistracthisattentionwhenheisoccupied,tryingto
understandhistask.Whenheisthusoccupied,hestripshisbodythroughtheloveofwhathe
does.LovefortheworkwhichtheydobringsmenclosertoGod.Thesearethepeoplewho
succeedinwhattheydo.

27.Teachthegreatwhatisusefultothem.Beanaidetothegreatbeforethepeople.Ifyoulet
yourknowledgeimpressyourleader,yoursubstenancefromhimwillthencomefromhissoul.
Ashisfavorite'sbellyisfilled,sowillyourbackbeclothedandhishelpwillbetheretosustain
you.Foryouleaderwhomyouloveandwholivesbyusefulknowledge,heinturnwillgiveyou
goodsupport.Thuswilltheloveofyouendureinhisbelly.Heisasoulwholovestolisten.

28.Ifyouareanofficialofhighstanding,andyouarecommissionedtosatisfythemany,then
holdtoastraightline.Whenyouspeakdon'tleantoonesideortotheother.Bewarelest
someonecomplain,sayingtothejudges,"hehasdistortedthings",andthenyourverydeedswill
turnintoajudgementofyou.

29.Ifyouareangeredbyamisdeed,thenleantowardamanonaccountofhisrightness.Pass
overthemisdeedanddon'trememberit,sinceGodwassilenttoyouonthefirstdayonyour
misdeed.

30.Ifyouaregreatafterhavingbeenhumble,ifyouhavegainedyourwealthafterhavingbeen
poor,andthengototownthatyouknowandthatknowsyourformercondition,don'tputyour
trustinyournewlyacquiredwealthwhichhascometoyouasagiftofGod.Ifyoudo,oneday
someonetherewhoispoormayverywellovertakeyou.

31.Accepttheauthorityofyourleadersthenyourhousewillendureinit'swealth.Yourrewards

willcomefromtherightplace.Wretchedishewhoopposeshisleader.Onelivesaslongasheis
mild.Baringyourarmdoesnothurtit.Donotplunderyourneighbor'shouseorstealthegoods
ofonethatisnearyou,lesthedenounceyoubeforeyouareevenheard.Onewhois
argumentativeisamildlessperson.Ifheisalsoknownasanaggressor,thenthathostileman
willhavetroubleintheneighborhood.

32.Becircumspectinmattersofsexualrelations.

33.Ifyouexaminethecharacterofafriend,don'taskotherpeople,approachyourfriend.Deal
withhimalone,soasnottosufferfromhisanger.Youmayarguewithhimafteralittlewhile.
Youmaytesthisheartinconversation.Ifwhathehasseenescapeshim,ifhedoessomething
thatannoysyou,stayfriendlywithhimanddonotattack.Berestrainedanddon'tanswerhim
withhostility.Donotleavehimanddonotattackhim.Histimewillnotfailtocome.Hecannot
escapehisfate.

34.Begenerousaslongasyoulive.Whatleavesthestorehousedoesnotreturn.Itisthefoodin
thestorehousethatonemustsharethatiscoveted.Onewhosebellyisemptybecomesan
opponent.Therefore,donothaveanaccuseroranopponentasaneighbor.Yourkindnessto
yourneighborswillbeamemorialtoyouforyears,afteryousatisfytheirneeds.

35.Knowyourfriendsandthenyouprosper.Don'tbemeantowardsyourfriends.Theyarelike
awateredfieldandgreaterthananymaterialrichesthatyoumayhave,forwhatbelongstoone
belongstoanother.Thecharacterofonewhoiswellbornshouldbeaprofittohim.Good
natureisamemorial.

36.Punishfirmlyandchastisesoundly,thenrepressionofcrimebecomesanexample.But
punishmentexceptforcrimewillturnthecomplainerintoanenemy.

37.Ifyoutakeawifeagoodtimewomanwhoisjoyfulandwhoiswellknowninthetown,ifshe
isfickleandseemstoliveforthemoment,donotrejecther.Lethereat.Thejoyfulperson
bringshappiness.

Ifyoulistentomysayingsallofyouraffairswillgoforward.Theirvalueresidesintheirtruth.
Thememoryofthesesayingsgoesoninthespeechofmenandwomenbecauseoftheworthof
theirprecepts.Ifeverywordiscarriedon,theywillnotperishinthisland.Ifadviceisgivenfor
thegood,thegreatwillspeakaccordingly.Thisisamatterofteachingapersontospeakto
posterity.Heorshewhohearsitbecomesamasterhearer.Itisgoodtospeaktoposterity.
Posteritywilllisten.

Ifanexampleissetbyhimorherwholeads,heorshewillbeneficientforever,hiswisdom
lastingforalltime.ThewisepersonfeedstheKawithwhatendures,sothatisishappywiththat
persononearth.Thewiseisknownbyhisorherwisdom.thegreatisknownbyhisorhergood
actions.Theheartofthewisematcheshisorhertongueandhisorherlipsarestraightwhenhe
orshespeaks.Thewisehaveeyesthataremadetoseeandearsthataremadetohearwhatwill
profittheoffspring.ThewisepersonwhoactswithMaatisfreeoffalsehoodanddisorder.

Usefulishearingtoasonwhohears.Ifhearingentersthehearer,thenthehearerbecomesa
listener.Hearingwellisspeakingwell.Usefulishearingtoonewhohears.Hearingisbetterthan
everythingelse.Itcreatesgoodwill.Howgoodisitforasontounderstandhisfather'swords.
Thatsonwillreacholdagethroughthosewords.

HewhohearsisbelovedofGod.HewhomGodhatesdoesnothear.Theheartmakesofits
ownerheareroranonhearer.Man'sheartishislife,prosperityandhealth.Thehearerisone
whohearswhatissaid.Hewholovestohearisonewhoactsonwhatissaid.Howgoodisitfor
asontolistentohisfather.Howhappyishetowhomitissaid"Yourson,isamasterof
hearing."Thehearerofwhomthisissaidiswellendowedindeedandishonoredbyhisfather.
Thathearer'srememberanceisinthemouthoftheliving,thosethatareonearthandthosewho
willbe.

Ifaman'ssonacceptshisfather'swordsthennoplanofhiswillgowrong.Soteachyoursonto
beahearer,onewhowillbevaluedbytheofficials,onewhowillguidehisspeechbywhathe
hasbeentold,onewhoisregardedasahearer.Thissonwillexcelandhisdeedswillstandout
whilefailurewillfollowthosewhodonothear.Thewisewakesupearlytohislastinggainwhile

thefoolishardpressed.

Thefoolwhodoesnothear,hecandonothingatall.Helooksatignoranceandseesknowledge.
Helooksatharmfulnessandseeusefulness.Hedoeeseverythingthatonedetestsandisblamed
foriteveryday.Helivesonthethingsbywhichonedies.Hisfoodisevilspeech.Hissortis
knowntotheofficialswhosay,"Theregoesalivingdeatheveryday."Oneignoresthethings
thathedoesbecauseofhismanydailytroubles.

AsonwhohearsisafollowerofHeru.Itwillgowellwithhimwhenhehasheard.Whenheold
andhasreachedtheperiodwhereheisvenerated,thenhewillspeaklikewisetohisown
children,renewingthentheteachingsofhisfather.

Everymanteachesasheacts.Hewillspeaktothechildrensothattheywillspeaktotheir
children.Hewillsetanexampleandnotgiveoffense.Soifjusticestandsfirm,yourchildrenwill
live.Astothefirstchildwhogetsintotrouble,whenpeopleseeit,theywillsayaboutthechild
"thatisjustlikehim",andtheywillalsosaywhentheyevenheararumoraboutthechild,"that
isjustlikehimtoo."

Toseeeveryoneistosatisfythemany.Anyrichesthatyouhaveareuselesswithoutthemany.
Don'tsaysomethingandthentakeisback.Don'tputonethinginplaceofanother.Bewareof
releasingtherestraintsinyou,lestthewisemansay,"listen,ifyouwanttoendureinthemouth
ofthehearers,speakafteryouhavemasteredthecraft."Ifyouspeaktogoodpurposeallyour
affairswillbeinplace.

Concealyourheart.Controlyourmouth.Thenyouwillknownamongtheofficials.Bequiteexact
beforeyourleader.Actsothatnoonewillsaytohim"heisthesonofthatone."

Bedeliberatewhenyouspeaksoastosaythingsthatcount.Thentheofficialswholistenwill

10

say,"howgoodisthethingthatcomesfromhismouth."Actsothatyourleaderwillsayofyou,
"howgoodishewhomhisfatherhastaught.Whenhecameforthfromhisbody,hetoldhimall
thatwasinhismind,andhedoesevenmorethanhewastold."

ThegoodsonisthegiftofGodandexceedswhatistoldhimbyhisleader.Hewilldorightwhen
hisheartisstraight.Asyousucceedmesoundinbody,aPharoah,contentwithallthatwas
done,mayobtainmanyyearsoflife.

ThethingsthatIdidonearthwerenotsmall.Ihavehad110yearsoflife.Asagiftofthe
Pharoah,Ihavehadhonorsexceedingthoseoftheancestors,bydoingMaatuntilthestateof
veneration.

Isisdone,fromitsbeginningtoitsend,asitwasfoundinthewritingsoftheancestorsand
Diety.

11