SAT Prep: c. 1650 BC

The BBC covers the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus.

Math makes the world go round. (If you can't keep track of money, you wont have it for long.)

Herbal remedies: 1661

To prevent sleep.

There is a Berry brought out of Egypt cald Coffee, which being dried and beaten to pouder, and boyled in fair water, is much used among the Turks to make them lively and prevent sleep, which of late is become of great use in England.

--From Eighteen books of the secrets of art and nature--

Herbal remedies, bah! They never work.

A way to wisdom, circa 2300 BC

Don't be proud of your knowledge,
Consult the ignorant and the wise;
The limits of art are not reached,
No artist's skills are perfect;
Good speech is more hidden than greenstone,
Yet may be found among maids at the grindstones.

--An Egyptian maxim--

Arrogance and pride, how many things do they make us overlook? I hear people dismiss ideas because they came from popular culture or someone without the right background and I have to wonder.

It's Great to be King circa 2000 BC

Let there be brought to me twenty women with the shapeliest bodies, breasts, and braids, who have not yet given birth. And let there be brought to me twenty nets and give these nets to the women in place of their clothes!

--From Three Tales of Wonder--

What does the king do after he has all these women clothed in full-body fishnet stockings? Have them row him around in a boat and let him watch them, of course.

Questions circa 2000 BC

Are you not a man? Are you not alive? What do you gain by complaining about life like a man of wealth?

--From The Dispute Between a Man and his Ba--

The person's soul was asking these things. It's not just people who don't like to hear constant complaining.

Ayn Rand circa 2300 BC

If you are poor, serve a man of worth,
That all your conduct may be well with the god.
Do not recall if he once was poor,
Don't be arrogant toward him
For knowing his former state;
Respect him for what has accrued to him,
For wealth does not come by itself.
It is their law for him who they love,
His gain, he gathered it himself;
It is the god who makes him worthy
And protects him while he sleeps.

--An Egyptian maxim--

I guess they didn't have to worry about wealth producers "going Galt" back then, but they did have to worry about them going Moses!