Contemplate thy powers, contemplate thy wants and thy connections; so shalt thou discover the duties of life, and be directed in all thy ways.

The saying urges self-scrutiny as the foundation of ethical living: by examining one’s abilities (“powers”), needs (“wants”), and relationships (“connections”), a person can infer what responsibilities properly belong to them. It frames duty not as an external command but as something discoverable through reflection on one’s place in a web of dependence and obligation. The archaic “thy” diction and the triadic structure resemble early modern English moral aphorisms, suggesting the quote functions as a general maxim about practical wisdom—aligning conduct with capacities, necessities, and social ties—rather than a specifically Egyptian theological statement.