Vanity of vanities; all is vanity

Cultural  

1. A statement at the beginning of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. The pointlessness of human activity is the major theme of the book. The author, however, like Job, insists that God's laws must be kept, whether keeping them results in happiness or sorrow.

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Example Sentences

Old Version of Ecclesiastes 1:2-3: Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

From Time Magazine Archive

The binding metaphor of 17th century still life was the vanitas, a term deriving from the text in Ecclesiastes, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

From Time Magazine Archive

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity; such is the comfortless doctrine of the book.

From French Classics by Wilkinson, William Cleaver

The Bitter Proof "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

From The Spinster Book by Reed, Myrtle

Is the sigh of the inspired sceptic, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," ever and anon rising from your heart, and are you losing your faith in yourself and humanity?

From Morality as a Religion An exposition of some first principles by Sullivan, W. R. Washington