Ecclesiastes 7:8

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof,, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these; for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this."

"Better is the end ... than the beginning." (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Here again, the truth of this hinges upon the question of whether or not the "thing" spoken of was good or bad, wise or foolish. The end of a wicked ruler's reign is, of course, better than the beginning of it. Apparently the burden of the meaning is that the completion of some great project is better than the beginning of it.

"The statement here is not a repetition of Ecclesiastes 7:1, but states a truth generally applicable to certain situations. The end is better, because at that time we can form a right judgment about a matter."[14] "Of course, this proverb is too pessimistic to be true without qualifications."[15] In fact Solomon gave two proverbs in which this is not true, namely, in Proverbs 5:4 and in Proverbs 23:32.

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry" (Ecclesiastes 7:9). Here once more Solomon virtually repeats a proverb he gave in Proverbs 14:17, "He that is soon angry will deal foolishly."

"What is the cause that the former days were better ...?" (Ecclesiastes 7:10). This, of course, is exactly the kind of question that may be expected of nearly any old man. "This is always the plaint of an old man."[16] However, something else may also be true of such questions. The downward spiral of human wickedness in many situations is radical enough to justify such an old man's question, because, as an apostle said, "Wickedness shall wax worse and worse" (2 Timothy 2:13).

Also, there is a quality in human life that romanticizes and glorifies the days of one's youth, conveniently forgetting its hardships and disasters, dwelling only upon those memories which are delightful and pleasant; and this very human trait frequently leads old people to glorify "the former days" with a halo of desirability to which those days are in no wise entitled. The ancient poet Horace has this:[17]

Morose and querulous, praising former days

When he was boy, now ever blaming youth ....

All that is most distant and removed

From his own time and place, he loathes and scorns.

Thus, Solomon's proverb here fingers an action on the part of old people that is very generally foolish, although, of course, exceptions undoubtedly exist also. Paul also gave us the good example that included, "Forgetting the things which are behind" (Philippians 3:13).