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On Will

老者安之,朋友信之,少者怀之。

"May the old be comforted, friends be trusted, and the young be cherished."

Chinese Original

老者安之,朋友信之,少者怀之。

English Rendering

May the old be comforted, friends be trusted, and the young be cherished.

Chinese Translation

孔子说 :“ 我愿老年人得到安竟,朋友们相互信任,少年人得到关怀。”

Modern Meaning

In "老者安之,朋友信之,少者怀之," Confucius focuses on may the old be comforted, friends be trusted, and the young be cherished. The exact principle is that time and pressure reveal what steady attention has really built. The tension is not generic time and effort; it is the specific problem that people judge themselves by intention, but endurance, effort, and use of time expose the truth, which still appears in choosing how to use one free block of time or respond to pressure today.

How to Apply Today

Use this teaching today in choosing how to use one free block of time or respond to pressure today. Because this line says "May the old be comforted, friends be trusted, and the young be cherished," trade one low-value habit for a focused effort on the exact quality this sentence praises, so the lesson becomes visible in one behavior.

Reflection Question

For "老者安之,朋友信之,少者怀之" (row 4, 立志篇 / On Will), What is my use of time or pressure silently revealing about me?

Action Step

Spend 20 uninterrupted minutes strengthening the quality this quote tests, specifically in response to this demand: "May the old be comforted, friends be trusted, and the young be cherished."

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Related Quotes

More Confucius quotes connected to this theme.

On Will

吾十有五而志于学

"At fifteen, I set my heart upon learning."

In "吾十有五而志于学," Confucius focuses on at fifteen, I set my heart upon learning. The exact principle is that learning becomes real only when repeated, corrected, and carried into conduct. The tension is not generic practice; it is the specific problem that knowledge stays shallow when it is consumed once and never reviewed, practiced, or taught, which still appears in after finishing one lesson, book chapter, work memo, or conversation.

Read this Confucius quote

On Will

士不可以不弘毅,任重而道远。仁以为己任。不亦重乎 ? 死而后已,不亦远乎

"An educated person must be broad-minded and resolute, for the burden is heavy and the road is long. To take humanity as one's own responsibility, is that not heavy? To continue until death, is that not far?"

In "士不可以不弘毅,任重而道远," Confucius focuses on an educated person must be broad-minded and resolute, for the burden is heavy and the road is long. The exact principle is that purpose must be strong enough to survive discomfort, delay, and pressure. The tension is not generic will and resolve; it is the specific problem that people confuse a wish with a commitment and abandon it when status, comfort, or difficulty changes, which still appears in working on a long responsibility that has no immediate reward.

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On Will

三军可夺帅也,匹夫不可夺志也

"The commander of the three armies may be taken away, but the will of even an ordinary person cannot be taken away."

In "三军可夺帅也,匹夫不可夺志也," Confucius focuses on the commander of the three armies may be taken away, but the will of even an ordinary person cannot be... The exact principle is that purpose must be strong enough to survive discomfort, delay, and pressure. The tension is not generic will and resolve; it is the specific problem that people confuse a wish with a commitment and abandon it when status, comfort, or difficulty changes, which still appears in working on a long responsibility that has no immediate reward.

Read this Confucius quote

Related Analects

Analects explained for the same modern problem.

Analects 1.1

Learning and Daily Practice

子曰:学而时习之,不亦说乎?

The opening of the Analects defines wisdom as practiced knowledge. Confucius does not separate study from conduct.

Read this Analects explanation

Analects 1.2

The Root of Humaneness

有子曰:其为人也孝弟,而好犯上者,鲜矣。孝弟也者,其为仁之本与!

Confucius does not treat family as private sentiment only. It is where patience, gratitude, and responsibility are first tested.

Read this Analects explanation