“Why should one live? All is vain! To live - that is to thresh straw; to
live - that is to burn oneself and yet not get warm.-
Such ancient babbling still passes for "wisdom"; because it is old,
however, and smells mustily, therefore is it the more honoured. Even
mould ennobles.-
Children might thus speak: they shun the fire because it has burnt
them! There is much childishness in the old books of wisdom.
And he who ever "threshes straw," why should he be allowed to rail at
threshing! Such a fool one would have to muzzle!
Such persons sit down to the table and bring nothing with them, not
even good hunger: - and then do they rail: "All is vain!"
But to eat and drink well, my brothers, is truly no
hath burnt them! There is much childishness in the old
books of wisdom.
And he who ever “thrasheth straw,” why should he be
allowed to rail at thrashing! Such a fool one would have
to muzzle!
Such persons sit down to the table and bring nothing
with them, not even good hunger:—and then do they
rail: “All is vain!”
But to eat and drink well, my brethren, is verily no vain
art! Break up, break up for me the tables of the never-joyous
ones!”