The Egyptian Gentleman

This book offers a commentary on the 'Maxims of Good Discourse' an exceptional text from Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom (ca. 2670 – 2205 BCE) written over 4000 years ago by a man called Ptahhotep. By way of a deliberate instruction given by a father to his (spiritual) son it enables the latter by way of good discourse to live the good life the outcome of not interrupting the moment of the heart offending one’s vital energy (Ka). Such an excellent son an Egyptian gentleman during life will be a justified deceased in the afterlife. To the British a 'Gentleman' is modest well-mannered self-deprecating quietly intelligent considerate of other people’s feelings well-informed and never vulgar inflated vain boastful noisily ignorant sleazy or common. So too in Egypt. The 'Maxims' describe a special kind of discourse one leading to a happy life. This by engaging in proper thoughts speech and actions. Morality is rooted in thought (heart) and speech (the right or wrong use of the tongue).