✍ Examples
Vitaly Pukhanov
“Fruits of the Sap Tree” (2003):
There was darkness and pitch-black light.
Another world converged with the world.
And I said: Yes, of course,
Nothing is eternal under the Moon,
Stephen King
“The Green Mile” (1996), translation - Victor Weber, Dmitry Weber, Preface-letter October 27, 1995:
“... what will happen if we resume publishing a large novel in separate brochures these days? Everyone, of course, knew that this had already happened ( nothing new under the sun ) at least twice.”
Erich Maria Remarque (1898 – 1970)
"Shadows in Paradise" (published 1971):
" Nothing lasts forever under the sun , and the beauty will become Satan"
Zoshchenko Mikhail Mikhailovich (1895 – 1958)
"In a Hundred Years" (1925):
“They say: nothing lasts forever under the moon
. They're obviously lying. The complaints department will be there forever.”
Repin Ilya Efimovich (1844 – 1930)
“Far and Close” (VI Artel), about the collapse of the artel of artists:
“ But nothing lasts forever under the sun! .. And good things pass especially soon... And some misunderstandings began in Artel.”
Belinsky Vissarion Grigorievich (1811 – 1848)
Works by Konstantin Masalsky:
“It’s a long-known truth: nothing is new under the sun.
- nothing is more confirmed than how old people grow up praising everything old and scolding everything new.”
Lenin Vladimir Ilyich (1870 – 1924)
European capital and autocracy, Complete works, vol. 9, p. 372:
“... the French bourgeoisie lent the autocratic government a small sum of billions of ten francs (up to 4,000 million rubles). But... nothing lasts forever under the sun!
The war with Japan, having exposed all the rottenness of the autocracy, finally undermined its credit even with the “friendly and allied” French bourgeoisie.”
Saltykov-Shchedrin Mikhail Evgrafovich (1826 – 1889)
“Faithful Trezor” (1885):
“Nevertheless, the merchant Vorotilov was right in asserting that nothing under the moon lasts forever
. One morning, Vorotilov’s clerk, walking past the dog’s kennel to the barn, found Trezorka sleeping. This has never happened to him."
Leskov Nikolay Semyonovich (1831 – 1895)
"Bypassed" 3, 10:
“ Nothing, my friend, lasts forever under the moon ,” the lanky sheikh impressively tells Dolinsky...”
Pisemsky Alexey Feofilaktovich (1821 – 1881)
"Bourgeois" 2, 7:
“But you, however, have changed a lot... you've turned completely grey... you've lost weight. “Everything changes in nature: this is its law!” — said Begushev.”
Hugo Victor Marie (1802 – 1885)
“Les Miserables” (1862), translated by A. K. Vinogradov (1888 - 1946), chapter 8, book 3, part 1:
"Alas! Everything is old and there is nothing new under the sun . There is nothing left unpublished from the works of the Creator! “ There is nothing new under the sun ,” said Solomon. “Everyone has the same love,” says Virgil.”
* a famous, repeated phrase in the book of Ecclesiastes of the Old Testament, the authorship of which is attributed to Solomon.
Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich (1799 – 1837)
"Mustache" (1816). Words of the sage Gusaru:
"Hussar! everything is perishable under the moon ;
Like waves following wave,
Kingdoms and centuries pass.
Tell me where are the walls of Babylon?
Where are the skinny Cleon dramas?
The river has flown away all of time.
Orthodox Life
The book of Ecclesiastes has been called depressive. But for a Christian it contains only a denunciation of the essence of the world, which is absolutely empty and lost, blinded and renounced God. Let's talk today about how the painful thoughts of the Old Testament Preacher will help us look at things more calmly.
“Vanity of vanities,” said Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, “all is vanity!” (Eccl. 1:2). Surely you have heard this phrase more than once. Inspired by depression? But from what? The author once again tears off the mask from the world, dressed in shabby clothes. A person’s life here has a limited limit, and it’s stupid to think that the whole point of existence is to “live at 100 and die young.”
Curiosity and fear, the crowd effect and a sense of self-importance are the main tools of the prince of this world and his minions in human form. The devil's goal has always been the death of people. Eternal, not physical. That is why he successfully deceives billions every second, throwing external events at them as bait. Trends and celebrities, new philosophical trends and terrible news, political upheavals and endless talk shows only make people experience emotions and poison their souls with erroneous conclusions and subsequent actions.
So many historical events have happened before our eyes over the past 30-50 years! And every time we think with bated breath: “What’s next...”. And then everything somehow calms down and life goes on. Yes, shocks can certainly take lives and cause grief. It is important how we behave in these circumstances, being either direct participants or distant spectators.
“What has been is what will be; and what has been done will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). History goes in a spiral. Each generation, by nature, experiences approximately the same trials in which a person makes his free choice towards good or evil. The circle is symbolic of Christianity. Morning gives way to afternoon, day to evening, and then night. Weeks, months, seasons and 365 days, which repeat themselves again in their cycle. A person only fills the content with creative energy, but time is cyclical. Remember, maybe what you already encountered 10-15 years ago is repeated in your personal life or in the life of the whole society?
Let the events of today not disturb you unnecessarily. We have time to spend preparing for eternity. And we... often strive to become heirs of the earthly kingdom, and not of the Heavenly one. But the words of Ecclesiastes can help us, give us wisdom, and “ground” us from excessive worldly aspirations: “I, Ecclesiastes, was king over Israel in Jerusalem; and I gave my heart to search and test with wisdom all that is done under heaven: this difficult task God gave to the sons of men so that they would practice in it. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, everything is vanity and vexation of spirit!” (Eccl. 1:12–14).
These words were written by a king, a man who had the maximum (well, almost) of what was possible. Fame, wealth, true and hypocritical respect of people accompanied the ruler of Israel throughout his life. And what? He is happy? No. Having everything, the Preacher realized that it would turn to dust if he closed his eyes forever. And even more: while still in strength, the king of Israel is burdened by what he has.
And we burn tons of nerves in pursuit of profit and a better life, we spend time in prayer, spiritual self-education and acts of mercy serving the world, we lose touch with God and wonder why at one moment our life-race suddenly flies downhill. Let's stop, stop being sad about what is happening and thank God for everything, stop being influenced by manipulation and the media, start praying for world peace and breathe out. Everything will be fine if we are with God. And the more of us people are with God, the better it will be. For all. The rest is vanity of vanities.
Vladimir Basenkov
With similar meaning
Everything passes
Inscription on the ring of King Solomon (10th century BC).
Everything flows, everything changes
The main idea of the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus from Ephesus (c. 554 - 483 BC), which means the variability of everything.
We don't notice how everything changes
Quote from the novel “Roadside Picnic” (1972) by the Strugatsky brothers (Arkady Natanovich Strugatsky (1925 - 1991), Boris Natanovich Strugatsky (1933 - 2012)), words by Noonan.
You can't step into the same river twice
Words of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 554 - 483 BC).
This is how worldly glory passes (Sic transit gloria mundi)
An old proverb from a quote from the book of the German mystic philosopher Thomas a à Kempis (XV century) “On the Imitation of Christ” (I, 3, 6).
