Ecclesiastes 1-3 reflects on the fleeting nature of life, declaring that all human pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, and achievements—are ultimately temporary and unsatisfying. The Teacher, traditionally identified as Solomon, emphasizes that everything “under the sun” is transient, and true fulfilment cannot be found in material things.

Although we might consider this to be a 'dark' somewhat pessimistic view of life, it's actually an important corrective to our persistent thinking and striving to build our own little 'paradise' in this life.