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A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

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A Disillusioned View of Life

A good name is better than precious ointment,
    and the day of death, than the day of birth.(A)
It is better to go to the house of mourning
    than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of everyone,
    and the living will lay it to heart.(B)
Sorrow is better than laughter,
    for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.(C)
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
    than to hear the song of fools.(D)
For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,
    so is the laughter of fools;
    this also is vanity.

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