4.21
The Master said, “It is always better for a man to know the age of his parents. In the one case such knowledge will be a comfort to him; in the other, it will fill him with a salutary dread.”
子曰：「父母之年，不可不知也。一則以喜，一則以懼。」
Notes
This statement from the Analects tells that a man must always be mindful of their parents’ age. On one hand, take joy in their longevity; on the other, hold concern for their aging. Rejoice at the opportunity to fulfill filial duties while parents remain in good health.
With life’s impermanence, filial devotion must be timely.
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