1. Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
2. A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3. It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.
4. Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5. The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6. It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.