Broadcast not your words to others,

Not join with one who bares his heart.

Better is one whose speech is in his belly

Than he who tells it to cause harm.

From the Instructions of Amenemope

Don’t start a quarrel with a

Hot-mouthed man,

Not needle him with words,

Pause before a foe, bend before an attacker.

Sleep on it before speaking.

A storm that bursts like fire through straw,

Such is the heated man in his hour.

Withdraw from him, leave him alone,

The god knows how to answer him.

From the Instructions of Amenomope’