Phrase Origins: May You Live in Interesting Times

When I heard the phrase, "May you live in interesting times," it sounds like it is a blessing. I am never sure because sometimes when things are not good, all I can say is that something was "interesting." However, I usually hear the phrase "May you live in interesting times," from people who would not wish me bad things. I think they mean the phrase as a blessing and it then registers as a blessing to me.

Meaning of the Phrase

It turns out that both the people who use the phrase as a blessing and I are incorrect. The phrase, "May you live in interesting times" is actually a curse. It doesn't seem like it, but it is. The phrase is used ironically to say that interesting times are not as good for your life as "uninteresting times." This way, it is a curse that you will have to live through troubles.

Phrase Origin

Most people think that this is a Chinese curse. Sir Austen Chamberlain though it was a Chinese curse, although the part of the phrase that said "times" was then "an interesting age." However, there is no certainty that the phrase is Chinese. Chamberlain never lived in China nor did he speak Chinese. He was only in contact with foreign diplomats from 1924-1929 because he was the British Foreign Secretary.

We can only be certain that the phrase "May you live in an interesting age" originated in 1936 because of remarks made by Frederic R. Coudert in 1939 at Proceeding of the Acadmey of Political Science . He remarks are recorded in print. He said, " 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."

As for the current version, the first time it seemed to appear or be used was in June 1966. This was in a speech given at Cape Town by Robert Kennedy. He 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."

Related Phrases

"Woe betide you" is semi-related to the phrase "may you live in interesting times." It is a curse, but rather than a general curse, it is more of a prediction of bad times after a person does something bad.

"Annus Horribilis" is related in a way that means things are bad. However, it is not a curse or a prediction. Instead, it refers to a year that has passed and has been filled with bad things. It translates to "horrible year."

Sources:

Martin, G. (n.d.). May you live in interesting times. The meanings and origins of sayings and phrases . Retrieved January 4, 2012, from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/may-you-live-in-interesting-times.html

Personal Experience