Analects 7.19

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.