“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.”

— Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth), Ecclesiastes 7:1 (King James Version)

About Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth)

Hebrew wisdom book traditionally ascribed to King Solomon. Scholars debate its authorship and date.

“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

“Things are revealed through the memories we have of them. Remembering a thing means seeing it—only then—for the first time.”

“The Bird of Time has but a little way to fly—and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.”

“The young have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations.”

“Accepting the absurdity of everything around us is one step, a necessary experience: it should not become a dead end.”

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

“The long, dull monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather.”