Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms
Miriam Lichtheim
Top 10 Best Quotes
“ Death is before me today Like a sick man’s recovery, Like going outdoors after confinement. Death is before me today Like the fragrance of myrrh, Like sitting under sail on breeze day. Death is before me today Like the fragrance of lotus. Like sitting on the shore of drunkenness. Death is before me today Like a well-trodden way, Like a man’s coming home from warfare. Death is before me today Like the clearing of the sky.As when a man discovers what he ignored. Death is before me today Like a man’s longing to see his home When he has spent many years in captivity”
“The cardinal virtues are self-control, moderation, kindness, generosity, justice, and truthfulness tempered by discretion”
“There was retribution for what I had done, For it is evil to destroy, Useless to restore what one has damaged, To rebuild what one has demolished.”
“Good nature is a man’s heaven, The cursing of the [furious] is painful. If you are skilled in speech, you will win, The tongue is [a king’s] sword; Speaking is stronger than all fighting, The skillful is not overcome.”
“Cleanse yourself before your (own) eyes, Lest another cleanse you. When you prosper, found your household, Take a hearty wife, a son will be born you. It is for the son you build a house, When you make a place for yourself. Make good your dwelling in the graveyard, Make worthy your station in the West. Given that death humbles us, Given that life exalts us, The house of death is for life. Seek for yourself well-watered fields, Choose for him, a plot among your fields, Well-watered every year. He profits you more than your own son, Prefer him even to your [heir]. The Instruction of Prince Hardjedef”
“When a man remains over after death, His deeds are set beside him as treasure, And being yonder lasts forever. A fool is who does what they reprove!”
“The sundisk, covered, shines not for people to see, One cannot live when clouds conceal.”
“The scribe is regarded as one who hears, For the hearer becomes a doer.”
“The gatekeeper comes out to you, He grasps your hand, Takes you into heaven, to your father Geb. He rejoices at your coming, lives you his hands, Kisses you, caresses you, Utterance 373 Antechamber, West Wall The king is raised from his tomb”
“THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAHHOTEP Part V Know your helpers, then you prosper, Don’t be mean toward your friends, They are one’s watered field, And greater then one’s riches. For what belongs to one belongs to another. The character of a son-of-man is profit to him; Good nature is a memorial, Punish firmly, chastise soundly; Then repression of crime becomes an example; Punishment except for crime Turns the complainer into an enemy. If you take to wife a Spnt Who is joyful and known by her town, If she is fickle and likes the moment. Do not reject her, let her eat,”
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