The Analects论语

Book 2, Passage 2.4

The Master said, 'At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning.

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,”…
All 24 passages in Book 24 of 24
6 sentences · 3 notes
子zǐ曰yuē:“吾wú十shí有yǒu五wǔ而ér志zhì于yú学xué,三sān十shí而ér立lì,四sì十shí而ér不bù惑huò,五wǔ十shí而ér知zhī天tiān命mìng,六liù十shí而ér耳ěr顺shùn,七qī十shí而ér从cóng心xīn所suǒ欲yù,不bù逾yú矩jǔ。”

1The Master said, 'At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning.

2'At thirty, I stood firm.

3'At forty, I had no doubts.

4'At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven.

5'At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth.

6'At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.'

Chinese commentary · 3 notes

The notes printed with this passage in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

有:同“又”。古文中表数字时常用“有”代替“又”,表示相加的关系。

立:站立,成立。这里指立身处世。

耳顺:对于外界一切相反相异、五花八门的言论,能分辨真伪是非,并听之泰然。

All 24 passages in Book 2