The Instructions of Ptah-Hotep 

Advice to Leaders

Be Firm in Your Judgement: 
If you be a leader, cause that the rules that you have enjoined be carried out; and do all things as one that remembers the days coming after, when speech avails not. 
Be Sparing in your favors:
Be not lavish of favors; it leads to servility, producing slackness,


Provide a Fair Hearing to all Suppliants:
If you be a leader, be gracious when you hearken unto the speech of a suppliant. Let him not hesitate to deliver himself of that which he has thought to tell you; but be desirous of removing his injury. Let him speak freely, that the thing for which he has come to you may be done. If he hesitate to open his heart, it is said, 'Is it because he (the judge, himself) does the wrong therefore no entreaties are made to him concerning it by those to whom it happens. But a well-taught heart hearkens readily.