"My heart is torn as I ponder on these things,
And much in doubt I remain,
Whether in all this earth there is a man
Whose heart is not set on vanity.
We come to this world, naked and bare;
We depart from it, in the same way;
Yet we accumulate great wealth
And strive for things that are of no value."
These lines reflect the central theme of the transience of life, and the folly of excessive attachment to worldly possessions and pursuits. The speaker questions whether anyone can truly avoid the allure of vanity, and emphasizes that we come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing, making the accumulation of wealth and superficial goals ultimately meaningless. This passage captures the core moral lesson that the author seeks to convey throughout The Tale.