Duke Ai asked Confucius, "Does the possessor of knowledge
live out his span?"
Confucius said, "Certainly. There are three ways in which a
man dies that are not determined by fate, but are of his own
choosing. Those whose residence is not taken care of, those who
are immoderate in eating and drinking, those who in toil and idleness
go to excess[2]
will all of them be killed off by sickness. Those
who, occupying an inferior position, like to oppose their superiors;
those whose desires are insatiable; and those who seek incessantly
will all of them be killed by the law. Those who with a few oppose
the many, who with weakness insult the strong, who in anger do
not take stock of their strength will all of them be killed in war.
Thus there are three ways in which a man dies that are not determined
by fate, but are of his own choosing." The Ode says, [3]
If a man have no moderation in his behavior,
What should he do but die?
