May you live in interesting times: Difference between revisions
←Replaced page with '{{Original research|date=September 2007}} {{nofootnotes}}' |
m Reverting possible vandalism by 193.19.114.133 to version by Codefool. False positive? report it. Thanks, User:ClueBot. (178501) (Bot) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Original research|date=September 2007}} |
{{Original research|date=September 2007}} |
||
{{nofootnotes}} |
{{nofootnotes}} |
||
'''''May you live in interesting times''''' is reputed to be the [[English language|English]] [[translation]] of an ancient [[China|Chinese]] [[proverb]] and [[curse]]. It is reported that it was the first of three curses of increasing severity, the other two being: |
|||
:*''May you come to the attention of those in authority'' |
|||
:*''May you find what you are looking for'' |
|||
It is often argued that the word ''interesting'' is meant to be a synonym for ''turbulent'' or ''dangerous'', while others suggest that no such similarity is necessary for the statement to be imposing. However, both of these theories miss the essential [[irony]] of the saying in light of the value Confucianism places on stability and constancy. |
|||
== Origins == |
|||
Many people have searched for the original [[Chinese language]] version and have not been able to determine its origin. This has led to some doubting its authenticity. One theory is that it may be related to the Chinese proverb, "It's better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period" ([[wikt:宁为太平犬，不做乱世人|宁为太平犬，不做乱世人]]; pinyin: níng wéi tàipíng quǎn, bù zuò luànshì rén). |
|||
The saying has also been attributed to the fictional Chinese storyteller [[Kai Lung]] invented by the [[Edwardian]], [[England|English]] author [[Ernest Bramah]], though this too has yet to be documented.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} |
|||
In current usage it dates back to at least [[1950]], when the April issue of ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'' included the saying in one of the [[magazine]]'s stories. The story was penned by [[Eric Frank Russell]] under the name Duncan H. Munro. It is currently unknown if Russell created the phrase himself or heard it from somewhere else. |
|||
== Popularizing and usage == |
|||
The saying was probably most famously evoked (and therefore popularized) by [[Robert F. Kennedy]] in his [[Day of Affirmation speech|Day of Affirmation Address]] in [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]], in 1966. The saying was also part of a speech delivered by the character Bob Garvin ([[Donald Sutherland]]) near the end of the 1994 film ''[[Disclosure (film)|Disclosure]]'', and also appears in Dean Koontz's 1996 novel ''[[Tick Tock (novel)|Tick Tock]]''. |
|||
The saying is referenced in the title of [[Terry Pratchett]]'s 1994 [[Discworld]] novel ''[[Interesting Times]].'' The same title is used for the autobiography of the historian [[Eric Hobsbawm]], and for writer George Packer's [http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker New Yorker Blog] (which focuses on the Iraq war and other political issues). |
|||
The saying spawned the computer hacker jargon term [http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/i/interesting.html "interesting"] used to mean a difficult problem that requires thought and genuine effort. |
|||
== References == |
|||
*Stephen E. DeLong (May 5, 1998). [http://web.archive.org/web/20040404010918/http://hawk.fab2.albany.edu/sidebar/sidebar.htm Get a(n interesting) life!] Accessed February 13, 2004. |
|||
*[http://www.noblenet.org/reference/inter.htm Origin of Phrase: May You Live In Interesting Times] |
|||
*[http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Speeches/RFK/Day+of+Affirmation+Address+News+Release.htm Robert F. Kennedy's Day of Affirmation Address, Cape Town, South Africa] Accessed June 1, 2006. |
|||
[[Category:Proverbs commonly attributed to be Chinese]] |
|||
[[Category:Urban legends]] |
|||
Revision as of 16:00, 24 January 2008
 | This article possibly contains original research. (September 2007) |
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. |
May you live in interesting times is reputed to be the English translation of an ancient Chinese proverb and curse. It is reported that it was the first of three curses of increasing severity, the other two being:
- May you come to the attention of those in authority
- May you find what you are looking for
It is often argued that the word interesting is meant to be a synonym for turbulent or dangerous, while others suggest that no such similarity is necessary for the statement to be imposing. However, both of these theories miss the essential irony of the saying in light of the value Confucianism places on stability and constancy.
Origins
Many people have searched for the original Chinese language version and have not been able to determine its origin. This has led to some doubting its authenticity. One theory is that it may be related to the Chinese proverb, "It's better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period" (宁为太平犬，不做乱世人; pinyin: níng wéi tàipíng quǎn, bù zuò luànshì rén).
The saying has also been attributed to the fictional Chinese storyteller Kai Lung invented by the Edwardian, English author Ernest Bramah, though this too has yet to be documented.[citation needed]
In current usage it dates back to at least 1950, when the April issue of Astounding Science Fiction included the saying in one of the magazine's stories. The story was penned by Eric Frank Russell under the name Duncan H. Munro. It is currently unknown if Russell created the phrase himself or heard it from somewhere else.
Popularizing and usage
The saying was probably most famously evoked (and therefore popularized) by Robert F. Kennedy in his Day of Affirmation Address in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1966. The saying was also part of a speech delivered by the character Bob Garvin (Donald Sutherland) near the end of the 1994 film Disclosure, and also appears in Dean Koontz's 1996 novel Tick Tock.
The saying is referenced in the title of Terry Pratchett's 1994 Discworld novel Interesting Times. The same title is used for the autobiography of the historian Eric Hobsbawm, and for writer George Packer's New Yorker Blog (which focuses on the Iraq war and other political issues).
The saying spawned the computer hacker jargon term "interesting" used to mean a difficult problem that requires thought and genuine effort.
References
- Stephen E. DeLong (May 5, 1998). Get a(n interesting) life! Accessed February 13, 2004.
- Origin of Phrase: May You Live In Interesting Times
- Robert F. Kennedy's Day of Affirmation Address, Cape Town, South Africa Accessed June 1, 2006.