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Famous Miriam Lichtheim Quotes

“Not speaks one who spoke, There speaks one who wilt speak, May another find what he will speak! Not a teller of tales after they happen. This has been done before ; Nor a teller of what might be said, This is vain endeavor, it is lies. And none will recall his name to others. I say this in accord with what I have seen: From the first generation to those who come after, They imitate that which is past.”

PastSpeakLiesVainEndeavorGenerationImitateRecall
Author:Miriam Lichtheim
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“THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAHHOTEP Epilogue Part II The fool who does not hear, He can do nothing at all; He sees knowledge in ignorance, Usefulness in harmfulness. He does all that one detests And is blamed for it each day; He lives on that by which one dies. His food is distortion of speech. His sort is known to the officials, Who say: "A living death each day.” One passes over his doings, Because of his many daily troubles. A son who hears is a follower of Horus, It goes well with him when he has heard. When he is old has reached veneration. He will speak likewise to his children, Renewing the teaching of his father. Every man teaches as he acts, He will speak to the children, So that they will speak to their children: Set an example, don’t give offense, If justice stands firm your children will live. As to the first who gets into trouble, When they see (it) people will say: “That is just like him.” And will say to what they hear: "That’s just like him too.” To see everyone is to satisfy the many, Riches are useless without them. Don’t take a word and then bring it back, Don’t put one thing in place of another. Beware of loosening the cords in you, Lest a wise man say: “Listen, if you want to endure in the mouth of the hearers. Speak after you have mastered the craft!” If you speak to good purpose. All your affairs will be in place. Conceal your heart, control your mouth. Then you will be known among the officials; Be quite exact before your lord. Act so that one will say to him: "He’s the son of that one.” And those who hear it will say: “Blessed is he to whom he was born!” Be deliberate when you speak, So as to say things that count; Then the officials who listen will say: “How good is what comes from his mouth!” Act so that your lord will say of you: “How good is he whom his father taught; When he came forth from his body. He told him all that was in (his) mind, And he does even more than he was told,” Lo, the good son, the gift of god, Exceeds what is told him by his lord, He will do right when his heart is straight. As you succeed me, sound in your body. The king content with all that was done. May you obtain (many) years of life! Not small is what I did on earth, I had one hundred and ten years of life As gift of the king, Honors exceeding those of the ancestors, By doing justice for the king. Until the state of veneration!”

HeartSpeakKnowledgeWiseIgnoranceFoolSpeechVenerationWisdow
Book:Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms
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“When you walk behind officials, Follow at a proper distance. When you enter a man's house. And he’s busy with someone before you, Sit with your hand over your mouth. Do not ask him for anything, Only do as he tells you, Beware of rushing to the table Be weighty and very dignified, Do not speak of secret things, Who hides his thought shields himself. Do not say things recklessly, When you sit with one who’s hostile.”

SpeakSecretHostileMouthAskFollowTellBewareRecklessly
Book:Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms
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