February
Leadership Reflection:
The Wisdom of the
Elders
Contemporary
Western culture places a high value on youth and strength, not on age and
wisdom. This emphasis is a rather recent innovation; just a few hundred years
ago, reaching the silver years was considered to be the crowning achievement of
human life. Elders were widely revered and consulted because of their long
years of experience and valuable insight into the human condition. In
non-Western cultures, the reverence due to elderhood is still practiced every
day by billions of people. In honor of African-American History Month in February,
let’s take a look at an ancient African sage to see what lessons we can learn
from him about leadership and elderhood.
Ptah-Hotep
was an Egyptian sage who flourished around 2400 BCE. He was prime minister
(grand vizier) to King Isesi, a Pharaoh of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. Ptah-Hotep
was renowned for his great learning and wisdom, along with his remarkable
longevity (he lived to be 110 years old!). His chief claim to fame, however, is
his authorship of the oldest known book in world history, the Maxims of Good Discourse, in
which he instructs his son with wise proverbs and common-sense advice so that
he can acquire good leadership qualities and achieve success and fulfillment in
life.
Ancient Egyptian portrait
of Ptah-Hotep, the wise elder statesman. (Image
Credit: Public Domain)
Here
are some of the lessons that Ptah-Hotep recorded in his book and that still
speak to us today, across a gulf of 44 centuries. (I have slightly modernized
the spelling and grammar of this translation from ninety years ago.)
·
B.
Here begin the proverbs of fair speech, spoken by the Hereditary Chief, the
Holy Father, Beloved of God, the Eldest Son of the King, of his body, the
Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-Hotep, when instructing the ignorant in
the knowledge of exactness in fair speaking; the glory of him that obeys, the
shame of him that transgresses them. He said unto his son:
·
5.
If you are a leader, as one directing the conduct of the multitude, endeavor
always to be gracious, that your own conduct may be without defect. Great is
Truth, appointing a straight path; never has it been overthrown since the reign
of Osiris. One that oversteps the laws shall be punished. Overstepping is by
the covetous man; but degradations bear off his riches. Never has evil-doing
brought its venture safe to port. For he says, “I will obtain by myself for myself,”
and says not, “I will obtain because I am allowed.” But the limits of justice
are steadfast; it is that which a man repeats from his father.
·
16.
If you are a leader, cause that the rules that you have enjoined to be carried
out; and do all things as one that remembers the days coming after, when speech
avails not. Be not lavish of favors; it leads to servility, producing
slackness.
·
17.
If you are a leader, be gracious when you hearken unto the speech of a
suppliant. Let him not hesitate to deliver himself of that which he has thought
to tell you; but be desirous of removing his injury. Let him speak freely, that
the thing for which he has come to you may be done. If he hesitates to open his
heart, it is said, “Is it because he — the judge – does the wrong that no
entreaties are made to him concerning it by those to whom it happens?” But a
well taught heart hearkens readily.
·
25.
If you are powerful, make yourself to be honored for knowledge and for
gentleness. Speak with authority, that is, not as if following injunctions, for
he that is humble – when highly placed – falls into errors. Exalt not your
heart, that it not be brought low. Be not silent, but beware of interruption
and of answering words with heat. Put it far from you; control yourself. The
wrathful heart speaks fiery words; it darts out at the man of peace that approaches,
stopping his path. One that reckons accounts all the day passes not a happy moment.
One that gladdens his heart all the day provides not for his house. The bowman hits
the mark, as the steersman reaches land, by diversity of aim. He that obeys his
heart shall command.
·
34.
Let your face be bright what time you live. That which goes into the storehouse
must come out therefrom; and bread is to be shared. He that is grasping in
entertainment shall himself have an empty belly; he that causes strife comes
himself to sorrow. Take not such a one for your companion. It is a man’s kindly
acts that are remembered of him in the years after his life.
·
D.
If now you attain your position, the body shall flourish, the King shall be
content in all that you do, and you shall gather years of life not fewer than I
have passed upon earth. I have gathered even 110 years of life, for the King
has bestowed upon me favors more than upon my forefathers; this is because I
wrought truth and justice for the King unto my old age. It is finished, from
its beginning to its end, even as found in writing.
You can read the complete text of
Ptah-Hotep’s Maxims of Good Discourse
in Brian Brown’s classic 1923 book, The
Wisdom of the Egyptians, @ http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/woe/.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rob Chappell
Chair, Legacy of Leadership Committee -- The Secretariat
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