Wisdom literature

Explore 9 quotes from the following genre: Wisdom literature

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Ahiqar

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Topic

Minimizing risk Risk

Author

Ahiqar

Source

Proverbs of Ahiqar

Genre

Wisdom literature

Language

Assyrian

Time

500 BC 500s BC 6th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Ahiqar. The Story of Ahikar. c. 500 BC.

Current Citation

Ahiqar. The Story of Ahikar, translated by Herbert Lindenberger. The John Hopkins Near Eastern Studies, 1983.

The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure; and he that hath little business shall become wise.

Ben Sira

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Topic

Wisdom Leisure

Author

Ben Sira

Source

Ecclesiasticus

Genre

Religious literature Wisdom literature

Language

Greek

Time

175 BC 170s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Ecclesiastus 38:24).

Current Citation

The Bible: Authorized King James Version, edited by Robert Carroll and Stephen Prickett. Oxford University Press, 2008. (Ecclesiastus 38:24).

Remember: it is not given to man to take his goods with him.
No one goes away and then comes back.

The Song of the Harper

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Topic

Can't take it with you The afterlife Death

Source

The Song of the Harper

Genre

Wisdom literature

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

2600 BC 2600s BC 27th century BC

Era

Egyptian Middle Kingdom

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Anonymous. Tomb of King Intef, n.d., stanza 10.

Current Citation

Anonymous. "Song of the Harper." The Literature of Ancient Egypt, edited and introduction by William Kelly Simpson, translated by Robert T. K. Ritner, William Kelly Simpson, Vincent A. Tobin and Edward F. Wente, Jr. Yale University Press, 2003, stanza 10.

Do not be arrogant because of your knowledge, but confer with the ignorant man as with the learned... Good speech is more hidden than malachite, yet it is found in the possession of women slaves at the millstones.

Ptahhotep

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

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Read The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Learning from others Curiosity Appearance vs. reality

Author

Ptahhotep

Source

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

Genre

Wisdom literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

2375 BC 2370s BC 24th century BC

Era

Egyptian Middle Kingdom

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Ptahhotep. The Maxims of Ptahhotep. c. 2375, maxim 1.

Do not set your heart on wealth…
Do not strain to seek increase,
What you have, let it suffice you.
If riches come by theft,
They will not stay the night with you….
They made themselves wings like geese,
And flew away to the sky.

Amenemope

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Topic

Detachment from wealth Wealth

Author

Amenemope

Source

The Instruction of Amenemope

Genre

Wisdom literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

1075 BC 1070s BC 11th century BC

Era

Egyptian New Kingdom

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Amenemope. The Instruction of Amenemope. 11 century BC.

Current Citation

Amenemope. "The Instruction of Amenemope." The Literature of Ancient Egypt, edited by William Kelly Simpson, translated by Robert T. K. Ritner, William Kelly Simpson, Vincent A. Tobin, and Edward F. Wente, Jr. Yale University Press, 2003.

Be cheerful while you are alive.

Ptahhotep

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

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Read The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Positive attitude

Author

Ptahhotep

Source

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

Genre

Wisdom literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

2375 BC 2370s BC 24th century BC

Era

Egyptian Middle Kingdom

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Ptahhotep. The Maxims of Ptahhotep. c. 2375, maxim 34.

One who is serious all day will never have a good time, while one who is frivolous all day will never establish a household.

Ptahhotep

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

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Read The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Balance

Author

Ptahhotep

Source

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

Genre

Wisdom literature

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

2375 BC 2370s BC 24th century BC

Era

Egyptian Middle Kingdom

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Ptahhotep. The Maxims of Ptahhotep. c. 2375, maxim 25.

Creator uncreated.
Sole one, unique one, who traverses eternity,
Remote one, with millions under his care;
Your splendor is like heaven's splendor.

First Hymn to the Sun God

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Topic

Nature of God

Source

First Hymn to the Sun God

Genre

Wisdom literature

Statement Type

Praise of God

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

1334 BC 1330s BC 14th century BC

Era

Egyptian New Kingdom

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Suti and Hor. "First Hymn to the Sun God." Stela of the Brothers Suti and Hor. British Museum 826, c. 1334 BC.

Current Citation

Suti and Hor. "Two Hymns to the Sun God." Ancient Egyptian Literature, edited by Miriam Lichtheim. University of California Press, 2019.

Do justice, that you may live long upon earth. Calm the weeper, do not oppress the widow, do not oust a man from his father's property, do not degrade magnates from their seats. Beware of punishing wrongfully; do not kill, for it will not profit you.

The Teaching for Merikare

More information about this quote

Topic

How to live

Source

The Teaching for Merikare

Genre

Wisdom literature

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

Egyptian/Hieroglypics

Time

2025 BC 2020s BC 21st century BC

Era

Egyptian Middle Kingdom

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Herakleopolitan FIP King, Kheti III (Wahkare Akhtoy III); attributed. The Instruction of Merikare. The Leningrad Papyrus, 1116A, n.d.

Current Citation

Herakleopolitan FIP King, Kheti III (Wahkare Akhtoy III); attributed. "The Instruction of Merikare." Ancient Egyptian Literature, translated by Miriam Lichtheim. University of California Press, 2019, parable 8.