In the famous “autobiographical” passage in the Analects, he states: At fifteen, I set my mind-and-heart on learning. At thirty, I stood on my own. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew heaven’s decree. At sixty, my ears were in accord. At seventy, I followed the desires of my mind-and-heart without overstepping right. (2.4) Though autobiographical, the remark is clearly intended to serve as a sequential template for all students of the Confucian school.
