Chapter 2. After such a start he says he tried to find satisfaction in pleasure: as king he could get everything, and he did. But nothing satisfied his soul. Aristotle in Ethics 1. 5 said that to make pleasure the goal of life "is a life fit for cattle." In chapter 1 Q seemed to say wisdom was worthless. But we now see he means a false wisdom, for true wisdom excels folly as light does darkness.

Even so, the wisdom of a man cannot satisfy him: all things in this life come to an end. The futility of working hard appears especially in the thought: for whom do I accumulate these treasures? My successor or son may dissipate them.

So take what satisfaction you can while you can.