proverb · Legacy record
Man fools himself; he prays for a long life and he fears old age.
Man fools himself; he prays for a long life and he fears old age.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Wanting a long life while fearing old age exposes tension between a desired outcome and one of its associated changes. The saying asks a person to examine conflicting wishes.
What the words are saying
The wording does not make fear shameful or assume everyone experiences age in the same way. A responsible reading can acknowledge hopes alongside concerns about support, health or independence. It is a reflection on attitudes, not a prediction about an individual’s future.
Everyday example
Someone discusses hopes for later life together with the support they may need.
When to use it
Use this as an editorial reading of the source image, with its stated limits retained.
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What it does not mean
No uniform experience of ageing or requirement to dismiss fear is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
China
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 311; PDF page 33; collection label: China
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- China