儒家: 《論語》 (公元前480年 – 公元前350年)

“The Analects of Confucius“ (480-350 BC) English translations by James Legge, or Leonard A. Lyall.

《論語》《為政》2.4 :

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。」

The Master said, “At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.”

【Alternative translation】The Master said, “At fifteen, I had the will to learn; at thirty, I could stand; at forty, I had no doubts; at fifty, I understood the heavenly Bidding; at sixty, my ears were opened; at seventy, I could do as my heart lusted without trespassing from the square.”

【原文】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；六十而耳顺；七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。」

【白话解】【孔子说：「我十五岁时立志求学，三十岁时能运用所学的道理，以立身行事；四十岁时能通达一切事理，没有疑惑，不为邪说所动摇；五十岁时能知道什么是天命；六十岁时凡所听到的都能明白贯通，心里不再有起伏不平；七十岁时能随顺心里所想的去做，一切自然，随缘自在，却不会逾越规矩法度。」

【试译】孔子说：“我十五岁立志求学；三十岁能够自立；四十岁没什么迷惑；五十岁得知天命；六十岁耳根顺了；七十岁随心所欲，没有不合情合理的。”