1. The word "not confused" in "forty but not confused" means - confused.

The meaning of this sentence is - when you are forty years old, you will not feel confused by external things.

Twenty and forty without confusion

"Forty without confusion" comes from "The Analects of Confucius: For Politics". This is Confucius's self-report. He said that when he was fifteen years old, he was determined to After fifteen years of studying, based on his rich experience and the tempering of life, he reached "thirty".

From the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, great Confucian scholars of all dynasties have traditionally explained: Li means doing things according to etiquette and being able to consider things thoughtfully, but at this time there is still confusion and vacillation. "No confusion at forty." When you are forty years old, you will no longer be confused.

Original meaning: refers to a mental state of frustration and poverty in life, lack of confidence, hopelessness, and lack of dignity.

3. Source

"The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng":

Confucius said: I am determined to learn when I am fifteen, I am established at thirty, and I am forty. Without confusion, at fifty you know the destiny; at sixty your ears are attuned; at seventy you follow your heart's desires without exceeding the rules.

4. Background

This is Confucius’ self-report. Why did Confucius make a self-report when talking about politics? Confucius died at the age of seventy-three. In a few simple sentences, he reported his life experience and the spirit of hard work. His life experience is very pitiful. When his father passed away, he still had a semi-disabled brother and a sister. He had to shoulder this burden for the family and his responsibility was very heavy.

5. Old Interpretation

He said that when he was fifteen years old, he determined to become a scholar. After fifteen years, this period is the golden stage of life.

At the age of thirty. Be in the best physical condition! (Li: Gao, the best period in life, this is what it means when a person passes thirty days and noon)

"Forty without confusion", when you reach forty, you will not feel confused by external things< /p>

At the age of fifty, one knows destiny. At the age of fifty, one understands the laws of nature. (Destiny: Laws, Laws)

"At sixty, the ears are attuned". When you are sixty, you can listen to different opinions.

"At the age of seventy, you can do whatever your heart desires without exceeding the rules." This means that when you are seventy years old, you can do whatever your heart desires without going out of your way.

6. Original meaning

(1) Frustrated and poor in life, lack of confidence

(2) Inability to express demands and lack of dignity

There is a group of people in society called the frustrated group. Often when a person reaches the age of forty, he or she realizes that the quality of his or her life has been basically finalized. It is more difficult for the "40" people at the bottom of society to change their living conditions through learning knowledge and skills. Once their careers fail and their families fail, they are more likely to feel despair about their future life.