“The instructions of an old man are precious.”

— Instructions of Shuruppak, Instructions of Shuruppak (3rd millennium BCE)

About Instructions of Shuruppak

Ancient Sumerian wisdom text from the third millennium BCE, among the oldest surviving works of advice literature.

“A loving heart maintains a family; a hateful heart destroys a family.”

“Nothing at all is to be valued, but life should be sweet. You should not serve things; things should serve you.”

“A thief is a lion, but after he has been caught, he will be a slave.”

“With rebellion, awareness is born.”

“Why was I born with such contemporaries?”

“The age of antiquity is the youth of the world.”

“Happiness was born a twin.”

“Youth, large, lusty, loving—Youth, full of grace, force, fascination!”

“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.”