a common misunderstanding

I should be clear - "vanity" often is used, correctly, to refer to foolish pride. But that definition kind of misses the point, I think.

Vanity refers to everything that is pointless and ineffectual. Probably the most famous use of the word is in the Book of Ecclesiastes, in which Solomon proclaims "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity." In another translation, this becomes "Nothingness, nothingness, all is nothingness."

What may be relevant on this board is the concept's use as regards the ephemeral nature of youth - it blooms for a day, then it is gone forever, and although youth can be enjoyed for a moment, it all inevitably ends in death, and all our efforts are for nothing.

So, when a person takes pride in themselves or their accomplishments, it is all ultimately in vain, for we all end up the same, and Death is the great leveller. So, it follows, it is foolish to take pride in such things.

As usual, there is some truth in this position, and some nonsense - for while all may end in Nothingness, surely there is some value in the experiences we can have in the meantime. Nonetheless, balancing the two concepts may help us better decide what we want to value and how we wish to live our lives: if, for example, a person were to do despicable things in an effort to become rich because "he who dies with the most toys wins", will it really be worth it, assuming that person has a conscience, if that person cannot live with themself? That is the danger of Vanity.