dual personalities

Each generation tends to think the challenges it faces are entirely new and much harder to overcome than anything anyone has ever dealt with before. If we think about it, we know that isn’t true, but we persist in our ahistoric viewpoint anyway. Don’t worry, I’m not going to preach. Instead, I thought I’d entertain you with some surprisingly relevant Sumerian proverbs that I recently came across.

People complained about double-standards, and criticized mothers about their parenting skills:

A chattering girl is silenced by her mother. A chattering boy is not silenced by his mother.

They recognized the importance of gratitude, and that negativity and complaining are not useful.

You don’t speak of that which you have found. You talk only about what you have lost.

They also realized that a reputation lost through lying is hard to reestablish.

Tell a lie and then tell the truth: it will be considered a lie.

Perhaps my favorite Sumerian proverbs involve literacy and education. We live in a day and age when correct grammar is (apparently) the preserve of elitist pedants, and many young people have a poor command over their native tongue. But things were ever thus:

What kind of a scribe is a scribe who does not know Sumerian?

A scribe who does not know how to grasp the meaning — from where will he produce a translation?

A votive statue of the scribe Dudu dedicated to Ningirsu, 2900-2450 BC

Those socially conscious ancients even had advice for the poor — a social class that included the majority.

Taking action defeats poverty. He who knows how to get moving becomes strong. He will live longer than the sedentary man.

Votive figurines from the Temple of Abu at Tell Asmar

Whatever problems you face, take comfort in the fact that they are neither new nor unique. They are simply part of the human condition. Accept what comes and be grateful. The Akkadian author of Gilgamesh shared some good advice:

As for you, Gilgamesh, let your belly be full,
Make merry day and night.
Of each day make a feast of rejoicing.
Day and night dance and play!
Let your garments be clean,
Wash your hair, bathe in water.
Pay heed to the little one that holds your hand,
Let your wife delight in your embrace.

Not bad for a pagan writing (about) four thousand years ago, eh?

Have a good weekend and do not fret. All is well!

*Pictures from Google image; proverbs from the Electronic Corpus of Sumerian Literature