Not in Infidelity. Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born.”
Not in Power. Napoleon the great, on St. Helena, summarized thus: "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires. But on what did we found them? On force! And our empires are no more. Jesus Christ alone founded His on Love, and today there are millions who would die for Him.”
Not in Pleasure. Byron lived a life of pleasure. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone.”
Not in Health. Sir Andrew Clarke, the great physician, left this testimony: "There is one remedy for all this spiritual disease, and that remedy is to be found in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.”
Not in Money. Gould, the millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable devil on earth.”
Not in Fame. Sir Walter Scott, who spent his life in writing fiction, when he came to die wanted fact, and said: "Bring me the Book!... There is only one Book—the Bible.”
Not in Position and Fame. Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age a regret.”
One and all they confirm Solomon's verdict: "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." Eccl. 2:17.