A Scathing Rebuke: “Unruly in Youth, Fruitless in Prime, a Pest in Old Age”

By / / Confucius, rebuke, responsibility, stages of life, The Analects, wasted life, Xian Wen XIV, Xian Wen XIV Chapter 43
Confucius rebuked an old acquaintance: “A pest is one who is disrespectful in youth, achieves nothing in adulthood, and yet lives to old age!”

In youth not humble as befits a junior; in manhood, doing nothing worthy of being handed down; and living on to old age – this is to be a pest.

幼而不孙弟，长而无述焉，老而不死，是为贼！

Source: The Analects, Xian Wen XIV, Chapter 43

Author: Confucius

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top