《龟虽寿》是东汉曹操创作的一首乐府诗，作品富于哲理，阐发了诗人的人生态度。曹操刚击败袁绍、袁术兄弟二人，充满建功立业的豪情壮志，《龟虽寿》可贵的价值在于它开辟了一个诗歌的新时代，汉武帝罢黜百家，独尊儒术，汉代人的思想禁锢了三四百年，曹操带头叛经离道，给文坛带来了自由活跃的新鲜气息。

曹操 《龟虽寿》

神龟虽寿，
犹有竟时。
腾蛇乘雾，
终为土灰。
老骥伏枥，
志在千里；
烈士暮年，
壮心不已。
盈缩之期，
不但在天；
养怡之福，
可得永年。
幸甚至哉，
歌以咏志。

Though the Tortoise Lives Long
Cao Cao

Though the tortoise blessed with magic powers lives long,
Its days have their allotted span;
Though winged serpents ride high on the mist,
They turn to dust and ashes at the last;
An old war-horse may be stabled,
Yet still it longs to gallop a thousand li;
And a noble-hearted man though advanced in years
Never abandons his proud aspirations.
Man's span of life , whether long or short,
Depends not on Heaven alone;
One who eats well and keeps cheerful
Can live to a great old age.
And so , with joy in my heart,
I hum this song.