“A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless. Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart. Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life. Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life. Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.”
‭‭‬‬

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT

A startling revelation from the great thinker is the idea that he knows nothing. This is the crux of all of Solomon’s wisdom. This is not to say that he has learned nothing. He certainly has. But what he has learned is that he’s always further from a true precipice of understanding. For all of his knowledge, he knows very little. In fact, all that he knows is transitory. It is fleeting and useless in the grand scheme of things. At least in the physical sense. In the sense by which one is able to feel empowered by it or control it. But of course there is another sense in which Solomon feels that his knowledge is quite valuable. In the sense that he feels the need to pass on to his children a state of being and a mindset rather than a commodity or item. In this sense Solomon has taken great care to impart the idea of peaceful surrender. Here we see that a life lived, mixed with a thinker’s mind brings the possibility for a treasure worth more than anything else. It brings tangible growth in character. Patience, peace and beyond these things, the opportunity for a profound joy at one’s own inability in the face of God.

Solomon’s Wisdom: Solomon believes that true wisdom lies in recognizing one’s own ignorance and the limitations of human understanding.

Value of Knowledge: Solomon views knowledge as transitory and useless in the grand scheme of things, but valuable in passing on a mindset of peaceful surrender to his children.

Tangible Growth: Solomon believes that a life lived with a thinker’s mind can lead to tangible growth in character, including patience, peace, and profound joy.