老當益壯

From a quote of Ma Yuan in the Book of the Later Han by 范曄 (Fan Ye):

丈夫為志，窮當益堅，老當益壯。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

---

丈夫为志，穷当益坚，老当益壮。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

Zhàngfū wèi zhì, qióng dāng yì jiān, lǎodāngyìzhuàng. [Pinyin]

When a real man shows resolve, he becomes stronger when in distress, and more ambitious when he ages.

老當益壯

1. to have one's ambition or resolve growing stronger even though he or she is old

   • 老當益壯，寧移白首之心？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     老当益壮，宁移白首之心？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 7th century, 王勃 (Wang Bo), 《滕王閣序》

     Lǎodāngyìzhuàng, níng yí báishǒu zhī xīn? [Pinyin]

     Though being old, we should be more ambitious; how can we change our ambitions when our hair is greying?