The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-11.htm

Some read this, and think:

  • The race should be to the swift.
  • The battle should be to the strong.
  • The wise should receive food.
  • The brilliant should be rich.
  • The learned should draw favor.

But others think:

  • There should be no swift and no sluggish; there should be no race.
  • There should be no strong and no weak; there should be no battle.
  • There should be no wise and no foolish; food should be given to all.
  • There should be no brilliant and no dull; all should be rich.
  • There should be no learned and no ignorant; all should draw favor.

The first is a cry against the vicissitudes of life. The second is a cry against reality itself.