May you live in interesting times

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The phrase was introduced in the 20th century in the form 'interesting age' rather than 'interesting times' and appears that way in the opening remarks made by Frederic R. Coudert at the Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, 1939:

Some years ago, in 1936, I had to write to a very dear and honored 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.

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As to the currently used 'interesting times' version, we can only date that to post WWII. No one is sure who introduced the term but the person who did most to bring it to the public's attention was Robert Kennedy. In a speech in Cape Town in June 1966, Kennedy said:

There is a Chinese curse which says 'May he live in interesting times.' Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history.

More: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/may-you-live-in-interesting-times.html

kimbutgar

(21,130 posts)

3. I just want to live my life and not worry that a crazy madman is going to destroy

Reply to First Speaker (Original post)

Sat Dec 10, 2016, 07:40 PM

Dec 2016

All our government institutions and start unnecessary wars and take away social security and Medicare. And hurts minorities, poor people, women and Muslims.

And I don't want to wake up everyday filled with impending doom and dread. And that is how I have felt since November 8th.