Sometimes, when beset by personal problems that seem obdurate, even the most careful thinker feels tempted to puzzle over the question, Why am I not coping with difficulties as quickly as I used to? Ecclesiastes, the Preacher who valued wisdom, calls this an unwise question: "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?" he admonishes his readers. Then he adds, "For thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this." Eccl. 7:10;
Many unwise questions urge attention upon themselves relevant to social and world conditions: for example, "Where are the good old days?" "Why did governments, churches, businesses, and so on all work better yesterday than they do today?" "Why were young people better behaved in the past than they are now?"
Anyone who knows the history of humankind knows that these questions have been asked innumerable times throughout the centuries. Indeed, one of the values gleaned from the study of history is the importance of asking the more important questions, such as, How can I live more effectively today? and How may I do more to help my fellowman?
