The Instruction Of Ptah-hotep and The Instruction Of Ke'gemni

The Instruction of Ptah-hotep and The Instruction of Ke'gemni, translated by Battiscombe G. Gunn, presents two of the oldest and most profound works of moral philosophy known to humankind — ancient Egyptian texts composed nearly 4,000 years ago, offering timeless counsel on wisdom, humility, and right conduct. Gunn's distinguished translation, first published in the early twentieth century, brings these voices from the dawn of civilization into clear and graceful English, preserving their serenity, insight, and poetic rhythm.

Attributed to Ptah-hotep, a vizier under Pharaoh Isesi of the Fifth Dynasty (c. 2400 BCE), and Ke'gemni, a sage of similar standing, these "Instructions" form part of Egypt's celebrated Sebayt literature — teachings intended to guide the young noble in living a just and harmonious life. Their maxims encompass every aspect of human behavior: the art of listening, the virtue of patience, the dangers of arrogance, and the importance of truth. Beneath their simplicity lies a profound humanism — an understanding that wisdom is not power, but the mastery of self.

Gunn's translation captures both the literary grace and moral depth of the originals, illuminating a civilization that saw ethical order as the reflection of divine order — Ma'at, the principle of truth, balance, and justice that governed the cosmos and the human heart alike.

 For readers of philosophy, history, and spirituality, The Instruction of Ptah-hotep and The Instruction of Ke'gemni stands as a document of astonishing continuity — a reminder that the search for integrity and understanding began long before Greece or Rome, and that its wisdom still speaks to the conscience of modern man.