“You should not work using only your eyes; you will not multiply your possessions using only your mouth.”

— Instructions of Shuruppak, The Instructions of Shuruppak

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.”

“The instructions of an old man are precious.”

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

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty!”

“We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.”

“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.”

“Hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.”

“Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness?”

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”