People naturally place their trust in their earthly achievements, wealth, and social standing, but reality ultimately proves these pursuits to be temporary. The glory and financial success a person gathers do not remain with them permanently [רש"י, רד"ק, אבן עזרא, מאירי, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this fleeting nature is realized at the moment of death. A person cannot carry their fortune into the grave; the moment they pass away, their wealth abandons them. However, this lack of permanence also plagues the relentless pursuer of wealth during their lifetime. Consumed by anxiety and the drive for more, they are unable to truly rest. Even at night, sleep escapes them, as they are troubled by the fear that their riches will not survive until morning [אלשיך, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. On a historical level, this fleeting glory echoes the story of the first man, Adam. He was created, sinned, and was exiled from the Garden of Eden all on the same day, failing to remain even a single night in the original state of honor in which he was formed [תורה תמימה].
When individuals place their absolute trust in materialism, lacking spiritual awareness and the fear of God, they undergo a profound descent. They lose the unique advantage of their humanity and are equated entirely with animals. In the end, they face the same silent, absolute finality as a beast, passing away and being cut off from existence while their soul is lost [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, מנחת שי, מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם, מאירי]. This tragic reality applies not just to isolated individuals, but serves as a universal rule for humanity as a whole [אבן עזרא, מאירי].
The relationship between humans and animals in this context reveals a tragic reversal. Typically, animals serve as a metaphor to illustrate human behavior. Yet, when a person becomes entirely consumed by the physical pleasures of this world, they sink to a level lower than the beasts. They are not likened to pure, domesticated animals that ultimately serve a productive purpose, but rather to wild beasts of prey whose sole drive is consumption, and who die without leaving behind any meaningful legacy [אלשיך]. This loss of the divine human image also strips away a person's natural spiritual protection. Wild animals are naturally restrained from harming human beings, but when an individual degrades their own character to the level of a beast, they lose this inherent shield and become vulnerable [תורה תמימה].
Alongside these reflections on human nature and mortality, this theme of human dignity carries a practical, legal application. True spiritual honor is associated with the commandment of wearing Tefillin. Because a person loses conscious control over their body during sleep—temporarily descending to an animal-like state of physical unawareness—it is forbidden to sleep while wearing them, ensuring these sacred objects are never treated with disrespect [חומת אנך].