子曰：「吾十有五而志于學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。」
Zǐ yuē:`Wú
shí yǒu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí érlì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng,
liùshí ér ěrshùn, qīshí ér cóngxīnsuǒyù, bù yú jǔ.'
The Master
said: "At fifteen I determined (set my will) to study; at thirty I was
upright (independent); at forty [I had] no doubts; at fifty I knew I knew
heaven's commands; at sixty my ear was obedient; at seventy I could follow the
desires of the heart-mind without exceeding the rules."
志 zhì purpose, will, determination
立 lì stand; erect, raise; establish, found;
fix, set; determine, decide; become indepdent
惑 huò confuse, mislead, baffle; doubt
命 mìng order, command; written command;
will of heaven; fate; lifespan
順 shùn obey, submit, go along with
欲 yù desire, want, long for; intend
踰 yú exceed, transgress; cross over
矩 jǔ carpenter's square, ruler; rule
