This post is part of the ‘Ancient Egyptian Wisdom’ series, please read the following first part: Ancient Egyptian Wisdom: Egypt – Source of All Knowledge and Wisdom?

Ptahhotep, (flourished 2400 bce), vizier of ancient Egypt who attained high repute in wisdom literature. His treatise “The Maxims of Ptahhotep,” probably the earliest large piece of Egyptian wisdom literature available to modern scholars, was written primarily for young men of influential families who would soon assume one of the higher civil offices. Ptahhotep’s proverbial sayings upheld obedience to a father and a superior as the highest virtue, but they also emphasized humility, faithfulness in performing one’s own duties, and the ability to keep silence when necessary.

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The website The Wisdom Page has derived a list of forty-eight positive human characteristics that have been associated with wisdom.

These characteristics are:

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Find the wisdom and courage to not follow the misguided flock. There comes a time when one must, at last, stand alone to find oneself, to find “Truth” and to find one’s true purpose in life.

Independence, then, may help one to eventually find this “Happiness” and “Meaning” that the ignorant pursue but will never attain through superficiality and dependency.

“Men have been taught that it is a virtue to agree with others. But the creator is the man who disagrees. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to swim with the current. But the creator is the man who goes against the current. Men have been taught that it is a virtue to stand together. But the creator is the man who stands alone.”

~ Ayn Rand

Manly P. Hall, who I consider to have been one of the wisest men of the 20th century, has featured more than once on this blog – with good reason.

Not only was Hall a man with a tremendous amount of esoteric knowledge, but he also had the wisdom, insight and common sense to advise us all towards a greater path of living, as he voraciously demonstrated in his chosen career of communicating his enlightening knowledge to the masses,

“In his over 70-year career, Hall delivered approximately 8,000 lectures in the United States and abroad, authored over 150 books and essays, and wrote countless magazine articles.”

So here I present to you, from the man himself, ten basic rules of wisdom which should provide the foundations towards living a better life…hopefully.

A concise guide for spiritual living in the modern world:

1. Stop worrying.

2. Stop trying to dominate and possess your friends and relatives.

3. Moderate ambition.

4. Do not accumulate more than you need.

5. Learn to relax.

6. Cultivate a sense of humor.

7. Find a reason for your own existence.

8. Never intentionally harm any other person.

9. Beware of anger.

10. Never blame others for your own mistakes.

Benjamin Franklin was a man who tried to improve every facet of himself in terms of mind, body and moral behavior

We can do no wrong in trying to adopt the following self-improving virtues devised by Benjamin Franklin.

However, if I personally could successfully instigate half of these I’d have done well…maybe I should also add ‘PATIENCE’ to the list – just for myself mind.

1. TEMPERANCE – Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE – Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER – Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION – Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY – Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY – Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY – Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE – Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION – Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS – Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

11.TRANQUILITY – Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY – Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY – Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

~ From the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Falling in love is a tricky business, especially when trying to find the ideal partner to share your life with.  The major challenge for any single person is acquiring the “right mate”.  So the first question you must ask yourself is, what qualities do you look for in a mate?  Here are just a few that came off the top of my head:

• Committed
• Compatible
• Trustworthy
• Faithful
• Generous
• Honest
• Truthful

So in the case of “Ancient Philosophy” making you fall in love, the word “Virtue” comes to mind when describing the above qualities.   For many philosophers of centuries past, “Virtue” was equivalent with “Truth”, and without “Truth” there can be no “Virtue”.  So for one to become virtuous one must first have a love affair with truth.

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