Age

Analects 7.19

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Seven

Original Text:

叶公问孔子于子路子路不对子曰女奚不曰其为人也发愤忘食乐以忘忧不知老之将至云尔

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Duke of She asked Zilu about Confucius. Zilu had no reply.

[Upon Zilu’s return], the Master said, “Why did you not just say: ‘He is the type of person who is so passionate that he forgets to eat, whose joy renders him free of worries, and who grows old without noticing the passage of the years.’ ”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The lord of She asked Zilu about Confucius, but Zilu did not reply.

The Master said, Why didn’t you tell him that he’s the kind of person who in bursts of enthusiasm forgets to eat, in his delight forgets to worry, and doesn’t even realize that old age is coming on?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 4.21

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Four

Original Text:

子曰父母之年不可不知也一则以喜一则以惧

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “You must always be aware of the age of your parents. On the one hand, it is a cause for rejoicing, on the other a source of anxiety.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, You must not be ignorant of the age of your father and mother! For one thing, it is a cause for rejoicing; for another, a cause for fear.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 2.4

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Two

Original Text:

子曰吾十有五而志于学三十而立四十而不惑五十而知天命六十而耳顺七十而从心所欲不逾矩

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “At fifteen, I set my mind upon learning;

at thirty, I took my place in society;

at forty, I became free of doubts;

at fifty, I understood Heaven’s Mandate;

at sixty, my ear was attuned;

and at seventy, I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the bounds of propriety.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, At fifteen I set my mind on learning; by thirty I had found my footing; at forty I was free of perplexities; by fifty I understood the will of Heaven; by sixty I learned to give ear to others; by seventy I could follow my heart’s desires without overstepping the line.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.