1. Never brag about what you will do in the future; you have no idea what tomorrow will bring.
2. Never praise yourself. Let others do it.
3. A stone is heavy, and sand is hard to carry, but the irritation caused by a fool is much harder to bear.
4. Anger is cruel and can destroy like a flood, but jealousy is much worse.
5. Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6. You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts. But your enemies want to hurt you, even when they act nice.
7. When you are full, you will not even eat honey. When you are hungry, even something bitter tastes sweet.
8. A man away from home is like a bird away from its nest.
9. Perfume and incense make you feel good, and so does good advice from a friend.
10. Don’t forget your own friends or your father’s friends. If you have a problem, go to your neighbor for help. It is better to ask a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
11. My son, be wise. This will make me happy. Then I will be able to answer those who criticize me.
12. Wise people see trouble coming and get out of its way, but fools go straight to the trouble and suffer for it.
13. When you make a deal with a stranger, get something from him and any other foreigners with him to make sure he will pay you.