Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

"That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. There is no remembrance of the former [generations]; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter [generations] that are to come, among those that shall come after." — Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 (ASV)

People's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in the past; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still the same. This should lead us away from expecting happiness in the creature, and motivate us to seek eternal blessings. How many things and persons in Solomon's day were considered very great, yet they are not remembered now!