【old but still strong】

 

【old but still strong】

 

This phrase refers to someone who remains strong and ambitious despite advanced age.

 

It comes from "Book of the Later Han, Volume 24, Biography of Ma Yuan.(馬援)"

 

△ "Old Horse in the Stable"

 

Explanation of the Allusion: According to "Book of the Later Han, Volume 24, Biography of Ma Yuan,"

 

Ma Yuan, a renowned general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, had lofty ambitions from a young age, yearning to establish a career.

 

Growing up, he served as a subordinate to a prefect.

 

One day, he was ordered to escort a heavily convicted criminal to the Si Ming Palace(司命府).

 

Halfway through the journey, Ma Yuan, feeling compassion for the prisoner, released him and fled north to avoid disaster.

 

Although he was later pardoned and his sentence absolved, he did not return to his homeland, remaining in the north to raise livestock.

 

During this time, many people flocked to him, attracting his loyalty, and he had hundreds of guests.

 

While roaming the borderlands of Long and Han, he often told his guests,

 

"A true man's resolve is stronger the more difficult the situation;

 

the older you are, the more you should exercise to maintain a strong body."

 

He used this phrase to encourage himself.

 

Later, he served Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty,

Liu Xiu, and made many outstanding contributions, becoming a general.

 

Later, the original phrase "老當益壯" (old but still strong) became an idiom,

 

used to describe someone who is still strong and ambitious despite his advanced age.

 

指年紀雖大但身體仍然強健，且志氣豪壯。

 

語出《後漢書．卷二四．馬援列傳》。

 

△「老驥伏櫪」

 

典故說明 據《後漢書．卷二四．馬援列傳》載，東漢名將馬援，從小就有遠大的志向，想要開創一番事業。

 

長大後當了郡守的部屬，有一天奉命押解重刑犯到司命府，半路上，馬援因為憐憫那個囚犯就放了他，自己則逃到北方去避禍。

 

後來雖然遇到特赦，免除了罪刑，但他並沒有回到故里，仍然留在北方畜牧維生。

 

期間有很多人慕名前來歸附，門下賓客有數百人之多。在隴漢交界游牧的時候，

 

他常跟賓客們說：「大丈夫立志，處境愈是艱困，志節應當愈堅強；年紀越是老大，越要多加鍛練，保持身體強健。」

 

並用這句話來自我勉勵。

 

後來他投效東漢光武帝劉秀，立下不少汗馬功勞，成為大將軍。

 

後來原文中的「老當益壯」成為一句成語，用來比喻年紀雖大但身體仍然強健，而且志氣豪壯。