Song Of The Day

"I am Koheleth; I was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to inquire and to search with wisdom all that was done under the heaven. It is a sore task that God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. I saw all the deeds that were done under the sun, and behold, everything is vanity and frustration. What is crooked will not be able to be straightened, and what is missing will not be able to be counted. I spoke to myself, saying, 'I acquired and increased great wisdom, more than all who were before me over Jerusalem'; and my heart saw much wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I know that this too is a frustration. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge, increases pain."
- Solomon, Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

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"Fortune, which has a great deal of power in other matters but especially in war, can bring about great changes in a situation through very slight forces."
- Julius Caesar, The Civil War, Book III, 68

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"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways — I to die and you to live. Which is the better, only God knows."
- Socrates, Apology

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"Whosoever shall not fall by the sword or by famine, shall fall by pestilence so why bother shaving?"
- Woody Allen, Without Feathers

Dead Can Dance - How Fortunate the Man with None [Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht]

You saw sagacious Solomon
You know what came of him,
To him complexities seemed plain.
He cursed the hour that gave birth to him
And saw that everything was vain.
How great and wise was Solomon.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's wisdom that had brought him to this state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You saw courageous Caesar next
You know what he became.
They deified him in his life
Then had him murdered just the same.
And as they raised the fatal knife
How loud he cried: you too my son!
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's courage that had brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You heard of honest Socrates
The man who never lied:
They weren't so grateful as you'd think
Instead the rulers fixed to have him tried
And handed him the poisoned drink.
How honest was the people's noble son.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's honesty that brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

Here you can see respectable folk
Keeping to God's own laws.
So far he hasn't taken heed.
You who sit safe and warm indoors
Help to relieve our bitter need.
How virtuously we had begun.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's fear of god that brought us to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

Bonus Verse:
You saw the lovely Cleopatra;
You know what she became;
Two emperors slaved to serve her lust,
She whored herself to dirt and fame,
Then rotted down and turned to dust.
How beautiful was Babylon!
But think about her case, alas!
It's beauty that brought her to this pass:
How fortunate the girl with none.