Quotes about Reflection
I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
— Ecclesiastes 2:2
I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
— Ecclesiastes 2:3
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
— Ecclesiastes 2:12
So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
— Ecclesiastes 2:15
I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
— Ecclesiastes 2:18
So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 2:20
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
— Ecclesiastes 3:7
I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:18
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
— Ecclesiastes 4:2
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
— Ecclesiastes 4:8
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
— Ecclesiastes 5:1