Very decent commendation from a non-Christian:
“For of all I have ever seen or learned, this book [Ecclesiastes] seems to me the noblest, the wisest, and the most powerful expression of man’s life upon this earth – and also the highest flower of poetry, eloquence, and truth. I am not given to dogmatic judgments in the matter of literary creation, but if I had to make one I could say that Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound.”
I had previously attributed this Thomas Wolfe quote, to Tom Wolfe because of a (now fixed) Wikipedia article: The Bonfire of the Vanities – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Hi there
You are attributing this quote to the wrong Thomas Wolfe. The right one is the writer who lived from 1900-1938 and the quote is taken from his novel ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ – see https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/wolfe/thomas/you-cant-go-home-again/chapter47.html
Best wishes
Donald
Thanks Donald, you appear to be correct. I have updated the post.
The first part of the quote does not appear in “You Can’t Go Home Again”, only the last sentence commencing with “I am not given to dogmatic judgements….” The former must appear in someone else’s writings.
The first part of the quote does not appear in “You Can’t Go Home Again”, only the last sentence commencing with “I am not given to dogmatic judgements….” The former must appear in someone else’s writings.
Oops! Mea Culpe! The entire quote is attributed to the You Can’t Go Home Again author. Apparently the first sentence was printed on the previous page of an old book, which was stuck together. I have updated the previous post.