1. In his early twenties, as ambitious as most other young men at such an age.

很有感触，二十多岁的年纪，觉得生活一往无前，雄心壮志，但实际只不过是平凡的不能更平凡的个体了。

2.He had no private means and no family connections of any importance.

想起了之前金世佳说的，他三十多岁，独居北京，没车没房没存款，大部分人可能都是这样的，家里没矿，手上没钱。

3.At forty， he was rooted, settled, and quite happy. A decent career,decently closed.

生于斯，长于斯，死于斯。

4.He was not, despite his long years of assiduous teaching, a very profound classical scholar.

哎更惨了，勤勉一生，未功成名就，而且想到后文他一个人手忙脚乱地调茶，又有丧妻之痛，简直了。

at any rate：无论如何，至少