The Instructions of Ptah-Hotep
Guidance and Vigilance are Needed to Raise a Good Son
If you would be a wise man, beget a son for the pleasing of the God. If he make straight his course after your example, if he arrange your affairs in due order, do unto him all that is good, for your son is he, begotten of your own soul. Sunder not your heart from him, or your own begotten shall curse [you].
If he be heedless and trespass your rules of conduct, and is violent; if every speech that comes from his mouth be a vile word ; then beat him, that his talk may be fitting. Keep him from those that make light of that which is commanded, for it is they that make him rebellious. And they that are guided go not astray, but they that lose their bearings cannot find a straight course.
