Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 2:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

And what is the use of understanding, thou wilt say, to the poor man? As might be expected thou art ignorant; for neither doth the blind man know what is the advantage of light. Listen to Solomon, saying, "As far as light excelleth darkness, so doth wisdom excel folly." But how shall we instruct him that is in darkness? For the love of money is darkness, permitting nothing that is to appear as it is, but otherwise. …

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 83 ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

"And I perceived that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. "I am allowed, he says, to see through that very wisdom of mankind, which is mixed with uncertainty. Nor is it possible, he adds, for it to flow into our minds so clearly as it does into the king and our creator. I know however that the difference between wisdom and folly is great even as much as one can differentiate between day and night, between light and dark.

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

Here the second point is noted, namely the discovered preeminence of wisdom over folly, because it surpasses it, as it were, beyond all proportion. For which reason he says: "And I saw that wisdom so far exceeded folly," that is, was nobler, "as light differs from darkness." And this comparison is fitting, since wisdom illuminates, and folly blinds or darkens. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2 ↗