《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪三十二》
于是马援到北地种田放牧。他常对宾客们说： 大丈夫立志，穷困的时候应当更坚定，年老的时候应当更雄壮。 
常谓宾客曰： 丈夫为志，穷当益坚，老当益壮。 
Then Ma Yuan went to the north to farm and graze. He often said to his guests: When a man is standing with his heart set on something, he should be more determined when he is in poverty, and more high-spirited when he is old.