One of the oldest known texts is a complaint that the ancients had already said everything worth saying, and that dates from almost 5,000 years ago.

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"Everything old is new again." - Peter Allen

Pontius Pilate: You're a funny guy Judas, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.
(later)
Pontius Pilate: Where is she, Judas?
Judas: Kiss my ass!
Pontius Pilate: I can't hear you!
Judas: I'll say it a little louder, get fucked!
Pontius Pilate: [holds Judas upside-down over a cliff by his leg] Listen, loyalty is very touching. But it is not the most important thing in your life right now! But what IS important is gravity! I have to remind you Judas, this is my weak arm!
Judas: You can't kill me Pontius Pilate! You need me to find your daughter!
Pontius Pilate: Where is she?
Judas: I don't know. But Jesus knows, I'll take you to where I'm supposed to meet him!
Pontius Pilate: But you won't.
Judas: Why not?
Pontius Pilate: [holds the hotel key he stole from Judas that Jesus is staying at] Because I already know. Remember, Judas, when I promised to kill you last?
Judas: That's right, Pontius Pilate! You did!
Pontius Pilate: I lied.

So, there is a known psychiatric syndrome in extremely intelligent children which captures some of this---the depressive thought that nothing they do can make any difference at all to their or any one else's condition in the end---and that we will all die anyway...

They almost slump into nothingness and can be quite hard to get going again.
If at all.