Egyptian Magic in Egyptian Magic by Florence Farr.

“The Kings and Priests of Egypt were the elect of those who had studied with success in the “School of Wisdom,” a Philosophical Aristocracy; they were chosen because they were not only wise, but could use their wisdom.” [via]

Consider also:

  1. “Understand, o my Son, in thy Youth, these Words which some wise One, now nameless, spake of old; except ye become as little Children ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
  2. “‘General knowledge is remote knowledge,’ he wrote; ‘it is in particulars that wisdom consists, and happiness too. Both in art and life general masses are as much art as a pasteboard man is human. Every man has eyes, nose and mouth; this every idiot knows. But he who enters into and discriminates most minutely the manners and intentions, the characters in all their branches, is the alone wise or sensible man, and on this discrimination all art is founded.'”
  3. “An absolute monarch would be absolutely wise and good.”
  4. “One man tells how the theatre and the library were at their foundation but part of a scheme the future is to fulfil. To them will be added a school where speech, and gesture, and fencing, and all else that an actor needs will be taught”
  5. “Strain forth thine Intelligence, O man, O worthy one, O chosen of IT, to apprehend the discourse of THE MASTER; for thus thy reason shall at last break down, as the fetter is struck from a slave’s throat.”