The book of Ecclesiastes is a conclusion, not a possible point of departure....

The sayings of the wise are a goad: the goad enters the hide of the ox and makes it advance; the word of the wise makes us advance, and does not merely stir up vain and brilliant ideas....

It is vanity to publish a book amidst the present Niagra of paper, not to mention ten thousand times more "information" coming from ten other media. What could be the point?.... I have no explanation or justification.... I do have available the exhortation of another part of Ecclesiastes: "All your hands find to do with the strength you have, do it" (9:10 JE).

Jacques Ellul. THE REASON FOR BEING: A MEDITATION ON ECCLESIASTES.