This sentence is from the Analects of Confucius: it is a political article.
Confucius said, "Five out of ten, I am determined to learn; I am thirty years old; Forty without confusion; At the age of fifty, I knew my destiny; I am obedient at the age of sixty; I am still obedient at the age of seventy; I didn't cross the line. "
Extended data
1, remarks
(1) you (Ⅱ u): same as "you". In ancient Chinese, "you" is often used instead of "you" to express the addition relationship.
2 standing: standing, establishing. This refers to the world.
(3) Fluent listening. Be able to tell the truth from the false, and listen to all kinds of different opinions calmly.
Step 2 explain
In this chapter, Confucius expounds that the process of moral cultivation lies in continuous progress and perfection. When describing his life experience, he realized that moral cultivation could not be achieved overnight, nor could it be completed at once. It takes a long time to study and exercise, and there is a gradual process. Moreover, the highest state of morality is the unity of thought and words and deeds, and it is voluntary to abide by moral norms from the heart, rather than reluctantly doing it against one's will. In addition, Confucius' experience of being a man and doing things is also for future generations to learn from and point out the correct training methods.
"Nine times out of ten, I am determined to learn" means that Confucius was determined to learn at the age of fifteen. At that time, men became adults at the age of fifteen, which was also the beginning of people's understanding. Moreover, between the ages of fifteen and thirty, it is the golden age for people to acquire knowledge. At this time, it is also a good choice to be determined to study.
Standing at the age of 30, after fifteen years of study and tempering, it is only at the age of 30 that you have achieved something. "In the eyes of Confucius, when he was twenty years old, he still belonged to the stage of" I don't know the courtesy, I can't bear it ". It was not until I was thirty years old that I learned manners and independence. In other words, after fifteen years of study, he has determined his outlook on life and understood the truth of being a man and the code of conduct for settling down. However, although I have been able to gain a firm foothold at this time, I still have doubts and my thoughts are easily shaken.
This sentence is often understood as starting your own business in modern times, which is completely different from Confucius' meaning. We should distinguish it.
"Forty without confusion" is closely related to the last sentence, that is to say, after another ten years, at the age of forty, I decided my own views and criteria and worked hard to move forward according to the established ideal of life. No matter whether you are a person or doing things, you have a clear code of conduct, as well as the criteria for judging right and wrong and the principles for being a person. There will be no hesitation. However, reaching this point is only a general understanding of life. If you want to do better, you need to continue to work hard.
"You know your destiny at fifty", but you don't know your destiny until fifty. Only then did I really know what I could do. In his view, fate is not only an unknown existence, but also a certain rationality. Since he has no ability to change this fate, he should do what he should do in his life. "Knowing destiny at fifty" belongs to the understanding of life thought, which is much deeper than the understanding of "the year of no doubt".
"Obey at sixty", only at sixty can we distinguish good from evil. In addition, everyone should pay attention to the fact that listening here is not a physiological problem. Confucius means that he began to learn to be a man at the age of fifteen and heard many good words and bad words. By the age of 60, he won't be moody because of these words, he will really distinguish right from wrong and have peace of mind. After reaching this state, you will have a calm and comfortable performance when you encounter difficulties.
After ten years of baptism, Confucius reached the realm of "being born from the heart" as he wished. However, "from the heart" does not mean that you can fool around casually, but there are restrictions, that is, "you can't overstep it for a while." This rule is "courtesy". In Confucius' view, people's behavior should be bound by "ceremony", even freedom can't go beyond the ritual system, and then it becomes an endless desire.
As long as a person's words and deeds conform to etiquette, he can see through the world of life and accomplish nothing, this realm is the highest realm of moral cultivation.
The highest realm pursued by Confucian scholars is to let people "live and work in peace and contentment", and almost all outstanding politicians in the world have worked hard for these four words. These words of Confucius are intended to warn people who are backward in learning that the process of moral cultivation is very long and difficult. Only with more experience in work can we truly understand the way of being a man and being a politician and become a gentleman.