Zhuangzi once characterized Confucius as saying,  庄子曾经这样描述孔子：

"You may forget me as I once was, but there is something unforgettable about me that will still live on."  "虽忘乎故吾，吾有不忘者存。"

This prediction remains accurate as Confucius' words still live on today and have been quoted by people down through the ages.  这个预言在今天得到证实，因为孔子的金玉良言世世代代流传，至今人们仍在不断引用。

Because of the writings and teachings he left behind,Confucius is considered one of history's wisest men. 他遗留下来的著作与学说，使其公认为史上最有智慧的人士之一。

When he was bom in 551 B.C. in Lu, China, the baby who would someday be called Kong Fuzi was named Kong Qiu.  公元前551年，孔子诞生于鲁国，这名未来的"孔夫子"被取名为"孔丘"。

Confucius' father, Kong Shulianghe, was a descendant of the royal family of Shang and had at one time been governor of the town of Zou.  孔子的父亲孔叔梁纥为商朝王室后裔，也曾治理过邹邑。

When Kong Qiu was three years old, his father died, leaving the child and his young mother in poverty.  孔丘3岁时，父亲去世，独留他与年纪尚轻的母亲贫苦度日。

As Kong Qiu grew older, their financial situation required him to take on menial jobs such as caring for livestock.  孔丘渐渐长大了，因为家中经济拮据，他不得不从事卑微的工作，如看牲畜。

He became known as a polite, smart and hard-working young man with an insatiable desire to learn.  后来他成为大家眼中有礼貌、聪明勤奋、好学上进的年轻人，而且有着永无止境的求知欲。

This thirst for knowledge would push him toward a life of learning and teaching others. 求知若渴促使孔子一生都在学习和教导他人。

Confucius married when he was 19，had a son and two daughters, and continued working assorted jobs, including several in his local government.  孔子19岁结婚，有一个儿子和两个女儿。他不断尝试各种工作，也曾在地方政府做过几件差事。

Around the age of 30， Confucius began his teaching career,  30岁左右，孔子开始以教学为业，

sometimes traveling from town to town while teaching a group of students who accompanied him.  有时遍访各邑，同时教导跟随他的一群学生。

As a result, it didn't take long for his principles to spread and for others to begin recognizing him for the wise sage that he was. 结果没过多久，他的信条就传布开来，世人开始把孔子视为智慧大师和圣人。

Confucius became increasingly distressed by the political corruption and disorder in society,  孔子对当时的政治腐败与社会动荡越来越感到痛心，

so he decided to get involved in politics, hoping to make a change.  于是决定涉足政治，以期改变现状。

But after tens of years of trying, he failed in persuading even one ruler to practice his moral doctrines.  但是经过十几年的努力和尝试，没有一位君主接受劝服并采用他的道德学说。

Yet Confticius never faltered in his belief that the most important task of any ruler was to work for the welfare and happiness of his people. 然而孔子从不怀疑自己的信念：君主最重要的任务就是为人民谋福祉。

He spent the rest years of his life studying, writing and teaching his ever-expanding group of students.  孔子的余年致力于研究、写作，教导不断增加的学生。

It's been said that up to 3,000 men may have studied with Confucius. 据说有3, 000名学生曾受教于孔子。

Sadly, Confucius' last years were unhappy.  令人难过的是，孔子晚年并不幸福。

One morning in 479 B.C., the sage died in bed.  公元前479年的一天早晨，这位圣人在卧榻上辞世。

His followers buried him with great ceremony, built huts close to his grave, and spent the next three years there in mournful respect. 他的追随者举行了仪式隆重的葬礼，并在他的墓旁搭建茅屋，为他守丧3年。