Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Egyptian Proverbs

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"A man's ruin lies in his tongue."

"Learn politeness from the impolite."

"He who chatters with you will chatter of you."

"On the day of victory, no fatigue is felt."

"Do not rejoice over what has not yet happened."

"It is better for us that the catastrophe happens instead of waiting for it."

"A small house can lodge a hundred friends."

"He was hoisted by his own petard — fell into his own trap, was harmed by his own plan to harm someone else."

""If" is like trying to hold onto the air i.e. something impossible."

"A back does not break from bending."

"A beautiful thing is never perfect."

"A better one, another time."

"A beggar but acting like a rich man."

"A basket has two handles for two people to carry it."

"A beggar, and he wants a whole loaf."

"A blow to another's purse is like a blow to a mountain of sand."

"A borrowed coat does not keep one warm."

"A boy’s ears are on his back: he hears when he is beaten."

"A camel does not tease another camel about his humps."

"A goose's child is a swimmer."

"A house has the character of the man who lives in it."

"A leader's errors are compounded by his followers."

"A leopard doesn't change its spots."

"A kind welcome is better than a good dinner."

"A loss soon is better than a victory much later."

"A man can't be judge of his neighbor' intelligence. His own vital experience is never his neighbor's."

"A man with two ears can be supported by two words."

"A monkey is a gazelle in its mother's eyes."

"A new broom sweeps clean."

"A sculptor is a maker of things eternal."

"A pupil may show you by his own efforts how much he deserves to learn from you."

"A man's heart is his own Neter."

"A phenomenon always arises from the interaction of complementary. If you want something look for the complement that will elicit it. Seth causes Horus. Horus redeems Seth."

"A woman will be twice bound when her chains feel comfortable."

"A wasp that brought about the destruction of its own nest through its buzzing."

"After his hair went white, he went to school."

"All is within yourself. Know your most inward self and look for what corresponds with it in nature."

"Admitting it when someone else is right is a virtue."

"All organs work together in the functioning of the whole."

"All seed answer light, but the color is different."

"Altruism is the mark of a superior being."

"An absent person should have his excuse."

"An answer brings no illumination unless the question has matured to a point where it gives rise to this answer which thus becomes its fruit. Therefore learn how to put a question."

"An enthusiast will give away everything he has for what he loves."

"An answer if profitable in proportion to the intensity of the quest."

"Always watch and follow nature."

"An onion shared with a friend tastes like roast lamb."

"At the time of a test, a person rises or falls."

"As to deserving, know that the gift of heaven is free; this gift of Knowledge is so great that no effort whatever could hope to 'deserve' it."

"Bathe her and then look at her."