Below is an excerpt of an Old Egyptian Kingdom literary text, dealing with interaction among intellectuals. I think it is brilliant:
The instruction of Ptahhotep

If you meet a disputant in action,
A powerful man, superior than you,
Fold your arms, bend your back,
To flout him will not make him agree with you.
Make little of the evil speech,
By not opposing him in action;
He will be called an ignoramus,
Your self control will match his pile (of words).

If you meet a disputant in action,
Who is your equal, on your level,
You will make your worth exceed his by silence,
While he is speaking evilly,
There will be much talk by the hearers,
Your name will be good in the mind of the magistrates.

If you meet a disputant in action,
A poor man, not your equal,
Do not attack him because he is weak,
Let him alone, he will confuse himself.
Do not answer him to relieve your heart,
Do not vent yourself against your opponent,
Wretched is he who injures a poor man,
One will wish to do what you desire,
You will beat him through the magistrates' reproof.