If one cannot understand the teachings of sages when reading, he is just a slave to books like a copyist; if an official does not know how to sympathize with the people, he is no different from a well-dressed thief; if one only knows how to study but does not pay attention to putting it into practice, he is just empty talk; if those who want to achieve great things do not think about improving their own moral character, their achievements will be like a flash in the pan and will not last long.
读书如果不能领会圣贤教诲，那不过是像抄书工人一样是书本的奴隶；做官如果不知道体恤百姓，那就无异于衣冠楚楚的大盗；只知研究学问却不注意身体力行，那就不过是夸夸其谈罢了；建功立业者如果不想着提高自己的德行，那就只能如昙花一现，不会长久。
《菜根谭·学以致用 立业种德》 洪应明
读书不见圣贤，如铅椠庸；居官不爱子民，如衣冠盗；讲学不尚躬行，如口头禅；立业不思种德，为眼前花。
He who studies without appreciating the insights of the wise men of old is no more than a copyist. He who holds office but loves not the common people is no more than a robber in official attire. Engaging in learning without refining one’s conduct is behaving like a person who tries to live up conversations by quoting phrases from the scriptures that he does not understand. A career pursued without storing up virtue is as transitory as flowers that bloom and die before one’s eyes.
