This idiom describes an ambitious person who, despite their advanced age, still harbors great aspirations and is determined to achieve significant goals.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao led his army to successively eliminate local forces such as Dong Zhuo, the Yellow Turban rebels, Lü Bu, Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and Liu Biao, thereby gaining control over the northern territories.
Yuan Shao's sons sought refuge with the Wuhuan people in the north. At the age of 53, Cao Cao personally led a large army to thoroughly conquer 200,000 Wuhuan people.
Upon his triumphant return, he composed the poem 'Gazing at the White Gate' (步出夏门行), which contains the famous lines: '老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已。' meaning 'An old steed in its stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li; a valiant warrior in his later years still holds unflagging ambitions.'