May you live in interesting times

Last updated

"May you live in interesting times" is an English expression that is claimed to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. The expression is ironic: "interesting" times are usually times of trouble.

Contents

Despite being so common in English as to be known as the "Chinese curse", the saying is apocryphal, and no actual Chinese source has ever been produced. The most likely connection to Chinese culture may be deduced from analysis of the late-19th-century speeches of Joseph Chamberlain, probably erroneously transmitted and revised through his son Austen Chamberlain. [1]

Origins

Despite the phrase being widely attributed as a Chinese curse, there is no known equivalent expression in Chinese. [2] [3] The nearest related Chinese expression translates as "Better to be a dog in times of tranquility than a human in times of chaos." ( 寧為太平犬,不做亂世人 ) [4] The expression originates from Volume 3 of the 1627 short story collection by Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World . [5]

Evidence that the phrase was in use as early as 1936 is provided in a memoir written by Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, the British Ambassador to China in 1936 and 1937, and published in 1949. He mentions that before he left England for China in 1936, a friend told him of a Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." [6]

The phrase is again described as a "Chinese curse" in an article published in Child Study: A Journal of Parent Education in 1943. [7]

Frederic René Coudert Jr. also recounts having heard the phrase at the time:

Some years ago, in 1936, I had to write to a very dear and honoured friend of mine, who has since died, Sir Austen Chamberlain, brother of the present Prime Minister, and I concluded my letter with a rather banal remark "that we were living in an interesting age". Evidently he read the whole letter, because by return mail he wrote to me and concluded as follows: "Many years ago I learned from one of our diplomats in China that one of the principal Chinese curses heaped upon an enemy is, 'May you live in an interesting age.'" "Surely", he said, "no age has been more fraught with insecurity than our own present time." That was three years ago. [8]

"Chamberlain curse" theory

Research by philologist Garson O'Toole shows a probable origin in the mind of Austen Chamberlain's father Joseph Chamberlain dating around the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Specifically, O'Toole cites the following statement Joseph made during a speech in 1898:

I think that you will all agree that we are living in most interesting times. (Hear, hear.) I never remember myself a time in which our history was so full, in which day by day brought us new objects of interest, and, let me say also, new objects for anxiety. (Hear, hear.) [emphasis added] [1]

Over time, the Chamberlain family may have come to believe that the elder Chamberlain had not used his own phrase, but had repeated a phrase from Chinese.

Trilogy

The curse is sometimes presented as the first in a trilogy. Terry Pratchett is quoted as saying

The phrase "may you live in interesting times" is the lowest in a trilogy of Chinese curses that continue "may you come to the attention of those in authority" and finish with "may the gods give you everything you ask for." I have no idea about its authenticity. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Pratchett</span> English fantasy author (1948–2015)

Sir Terence David John Pratchett was an English author, humorist, and satirist, best known for the Discworld series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the apocalyptic comedy novel Good Omens (1990), which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman.

<i>Good Omens</i> 1990 novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch is a 1990 novel written as a collaboration between the English authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Theatrical superstitions are superstitions particular to actors or the theatre.

<i>Wyrd Sisters</i> 1988 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters is Terry Pratchett's sixth Discworld novel, published in 1988. It re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of Equal Rites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Young, Baron Young of Cookham</span> British Conservative politician (born 1941)

George Samuel Knatchbull Young, Baron Young of Cookham,, known as Sir George Young, 6th Baronet from 1960 to 2015, is a British Conservative Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1974 to 2015, having represented Ealing Acton from 1974 to 1997 and North West Hampshire from 1997. He has served in Cabinet on three occasions: as Secretary of State for Transport from 1995 to 1997; as the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal from 2010 to 2012; and as Conservative Chief Whip from 2012 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granny Weatherwax</span> Character in Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels

Esmerelda "Esme" Weatherwax is a fictional character from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. She is a witch and member of the Lancre coven. She is the self-appointed guardian of her small country, and frequently defends it against supernatural powers. She is one of the Discworld series's main protagonists, having major roles in seven novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elyesa Bazna</span> Secret agent for Nazi Germany during World War II, operating under the code name Cicero

Elyesa Bazna, sometimes known as Ilyaz and Iliaz Bazna, was a secret agent for Nazi Germany during World War II, operating under the code name Cicero.

<i>Interesting Times</i> 1994 Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett

Interesting Times is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. It is the seventeenth book in the Discworld series and is set in the Aurient.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Aching</span> Fictional character of the Discworld novels

Tiffany Aching is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's satirical Discworld series of fantasy novels. Her name in Nac Mac Feegle is Tir-far-thóinn or 'Land Under Wave'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knocking on wood</span> Apotropaic tradition believed to ward off evil

Knocking on wood is an apotropaic tradition of literally touching, tapping, or knocking on wood, or merely stating that one is doing or intending to do so, in order to avoid "tempting fate" after making a favorable prediction or boast, or a declaration concerning one's own death or another unfavorable situation.

Many Chinese proverbs exist, some of which have entered English in forms that are of varying degrees of faithfulness. A notable example is "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step", from the Dao De Jing, ascribed to Laozi. They cover all aspects of life, and are widely used in everyday speech, in contrast to the decline of the use of proverbs in Western cultures. The majority are distinct from high literary forms such as xiehouyu and chengyu, and are common sayings of usually anonymous authorship, originating through "little tradition" rather than "great tradition".

Brigadier-General Sir Robert Gilmour, 1st Baronet,, born Robert Wolrige Gordon, was a British army officer and Captain of the Royal Company of Archers.

Sto lat is a traditional Polish song that is sung to express good wishes, good health and long life to a person. It is also a common way of wishing someone a happy birthday in Polish. Sto lat is used in many birthdays and on international day of language.

<i>Terry Pratchetts Hogfather</i> 2006 British television fantasy comedy series

Terry Pratchett's Hogfather is a 2006 two-part British Christmas-themed fantasy comedy television miniseries adaptation of Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, produced by The Mob, and first broadcast on Sky1, and in High Definition on Sky1 HD, over Christmas 2006. First aired in two 1.5-hour episodes on 17 and 18 December 2006 at 20:00 UTC, it was the first live-action film adaptation of a Discworld novel. In 2007, the two episodes were rerun on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day respectively on Sky One and Sky1 HD.

The Latin phrase cīvis Rōmānus sum is a phrase used in Cicero's In Verrem as a plea for the legal rights of a Roman citizen. When travelling across the Roman Empire, safety was said to be guaranteed to anyone who declared, "civis Romanus sum".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob's your uncle</span> British phrase

"Bob's your uncle" is a phrase commonly used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries that means "and there it is", or "and there you have it", or "it's done". Typically, someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions or when a result is reached. The meaning is similar to that of the French expression "et voilà!".

<i>Terry Pratchetts The Colour of Magic</i> 2008 English fantasy movie directed by Vadim Jean

Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic is a fantasy-comedy two-part British television adaptation of the bestselling novels The Colour of Magic (1983) and The Light Fantastic (1986) by Terry Pratchett. The fantasy film was produced for Sky1 by The Mob, a small British studio, starring David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry, and Christopher Lee as the voice of Death. Vadim Jean both adapted the screenplay from Pratchett's original novels, and served as director.

<i>Discworld</i> Fantasy book series by Terry Pratchett

Discworld is a comic fantasy book series written by the English author Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat planet balanced on the backs of four elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle. The series began in 1983 with The Colour of Magic and continued until the final novel The Shepherd's Crown, which was published in 2015, following Pratchett's death. The books frequently parody or take inspiration from classic works, usually fantasy or science fiction, as well as mythology, folklore and fairy tales, and often use them for satirical parallels with cultural, political and scientific issues.

Interesting Times is a 1994 novel by Terry Pratchett.

References

  1. 1 2 O'Toole, Garson. "May You Live in Interesting Times". Quote Investigator: Exploring the Origins of Quotations. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. Van Norden, Bryan William (2011). "II. Criticisms and Confucianism". Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy. [p. 257]: Shapiro, 2006, p. 669. Indianapolis; Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company. p. 53. ISBN   978-1-60384-605-9. LCCN   2010042112. OCLC   1413500230. Myth: "A traditional Chinese curse is 'May you live in interesting times.'" / Fact: No Chinese source has ever been found for this quaint quotation.
  3. Shapiro, Fred Richard, ed. (2006). "Sayings". The Yale Book of Quotations. American Society of International Law Proceedings vol. 33 (1939). New Haven, Connecticut; London: Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-10798-2. LCCN   2006012317. OCLC   184842706. 39 ["Old Chi­nese curse":] May you live in in­ter­est­ing times. No authentic Chinese saying to this effect has ever been found.
  4. O'Conner, Patricia; Kellerman, Stewart (5 July 2012). "May you live in interesting times". The Grammarphobia Blog. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  5. Feng, Menglong (1627). Xǐng Shì Héng Yán醒世恆言 [Stories to Awaken the World] (in Traditional Chinese). Vol. 3 via Chinese Wikisource.
  6. Knatchbull-Hugessen, Hughe (1949). Diplomat in Peace and War. John Murray. p. ix.
  7. Child Study Association (1943). Child Study: A Journal of Parent Education. Vol. 21. Cornell University. p. 52.
  8. Coudert, Frederic R. (1940). Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science. Columbia University Press. p. 269.
  9. Pratchett, Terry (2008). "Book World Live: 'Discworld' Author Terry Pratchett". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  10. "Biennale de Venise : En Images, « May You Live in Interesting Times". 9 May 2019.