Stages of Development
Confucius's description of his own moral development through life.
Confucius described his development through decades: at 15, determined to learn; at 30, established; at 40, no longer confused; at 50, knowing Heaven's will; at 60, ears attuned; at 70, following heart's desire within bounds.
At 70, I could follow my heart's desire without overstepping the bounds.
Moral development continues throughout life.
Analects
Written about in
- What Confucianism says about order in human life
Confucius described his own life in decades: set on learning at fifteen, established at thirty, no longer confused at forty, and at seventy able to follow his own inclination without overstepping. The pattern is presented as slow.
- What Confucianism says about failure
Confucius dates his own progress by decades: at fifteen set on learning, at forty free of confusion, at seventy able to follow his desires without overstepping. The unit in which failure is measured here is a life, not a quarter.