Nothing New Under the Sun 🌞
Definition: Everything has existed or happened before. This seemingly world-weary view was first stated in Ecclesiastes (1:9), appearing in John Wycliffe’s 1382 translation, “No thing vndir the sunne is newe.”
Related & Similar Terms:
- Déjà vu - The feeling that you have already experienced the present situation.
- History repeats itself - Patterns in history tend to recur.
- Old hat - Something considered unoriginal or outdated.
- Been there, done that - Used to say that one has done something before—and usually is not very impressed or excited about it.
Humorous Quotes & Observations:
- “I felt like I’d seen it all before. Turns out, I had, just on a different film set with different actors.” — Quentin Quipster
- “Plagiarism: Nothing new under the sun’s side gig.” — Anonymous
Proverbs & Wisdom:
- “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 1:9
- “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana
Literature & Media References:
- Book Recommendation: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – Explore how history cycles through same old tragedies.
- Movie Suggestion: Groundhog Day – A man relives the same day over and over; an existential take on “nothing new under the sun.”
- Poetry: The Second Coming by W.B. Yeats — Reflects on cyclical nature of history.
- Song: Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds - Inspired by the Book of Ecclesiastes, reminds us that cycles and patterns are simply part of life.
Quizzes 🎯
### Which of these expressions fits the idea of "nothing new under the sun"?
- [x] History repeats itself
- [ ] Reaching for the stars
- [ ] A diamond in the rough
- [ ] Painting the town red
> **Explanation:** "History repeats itself" is aligned with the notion that everything has happened before. The others are unrelated.
### True or False: "Old hat" means something is outdated or no longer interesting.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! “Old hat” is used to describe things that are unoriginal or predictable.
### Which idiom suggests a recurring familiar experience?
- [ ] A blessing in disguise
- [x] Déjà vu
- [ ] On cloud nine
- [ ] Burn the midnight oil
> **Explanation:** “Déjà vu” captures the eerie sensation of experiencing something all over again, just like “nothing new under the sun.”
### What does "Been there, done that" imply?
- [ ] It was flawless.
- [ ] It's unattainable.
- [x] It's familiar and perhaps mundane.
- [ ] It requires patience.
> **Explanation:** "Been there, done that" implies familiarity with an experience, often with an undertone of boredom or disinterest.
### What's the origin of "nothing new under the sun"?
- [ ] Shakespearean play
- [ ] Greek mythology
- [x] The Bible (Ecclesiastes)
- [ ] Roman history
> **Explanation:** The origin of "nothing new under the sun" is indeed from the Bible, specifically the Book of Ecclesiastes.
As linguists and lovers of literature, may we always find joy in rediscovering ideas that ancient scribes once treasured. Remember, time is a circle and in every end, there’s a fresh, albeit familiar, beginning.
— Wanda Worthington, 2023
