Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken.

"As for human beings," I told myself, "God puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals."

I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?

Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them.

It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom.

When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won't seek anything outside of his best.

I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.

I have discovered only this: God made human beings for righteousness, but they seek many alternatives."

Sow your seed in the morning, and don't stop working until evening, since you don't know which of your endeavors will do well, whether this one or that, or even if both will do equally well.