《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的儒家经典，是一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。其文字简炼明隽，兼采雅俗，言辞中流露出山林意趣，渗透着万物一体的世界观。开出的处世之方偏重心态和人事，悟虚妄真实之理，指出贫富、尊卑、穷达因为心念使善恶、祸福相互转换，告诫世人及时转念，戒贪少欲，取中庸之道。著作前后内容和深度有所不同，反映出了不同的阅历和境界。
Caigen Tan “is a Confucian classic collected and compiled by Hong Yingming, a Taoist during the early Ming Dynasty. It is a collection of sayings discussing cultivation, life, social interactions, and worldly affairs. His writing is concise, clear, and elegant, with a blend of elegance and vulgarity. His words reveal the charm of mountains and forests, permeating the worldview of the unity of all things. The way of dealing with the world emphasized on mentality and human affairs, realizing the truth of falsehood, pointing out that wealth, hierarchy, and poverty can be transformed into good and evil, as well as good and bad, due to the mindset. It warned people to change their mindset in a timely manner, avoid greed and desires, and take the middle way. The content and depth of the work differ before and after, reflecting different experiences and realms.
《菜根谭》（动中真静、苦中真乐）
静中静非真静，动处静得来，才是性天之真境；乐处乐非真乐，苦中乐得来，才是心体之真机。
If you are able to keep quiet in a noiseless place, that kind of quietness does not count for much; only the quietness that is obtained from hard work accords completely with man’s nature. If you are able to keep happy on a joyous occasion, that is not happiness in the real sense; only the happiness gained in misery is the source of vitality for man’s body and soul.
（保罗·怀特 译）
The genuine tranquility is not that attained amidst quietude but that attained amidst noisy conditions, which counts as the realm of man’s natural characters. The real delight is not that sought on joyous occasions but that sough under adverse circumstances, which counts as the true subtlety of man’s hearted feelings.
（周文标 译）
The peace of mind in peaceful surroundings is no real peace of mind; the peace of mind acquired in disturbing circumstances only is the ultimate condition of one’s nature. The joy on joyful occasions is no real joy; the joy obtained in sorrowful situations alone is the ultimate delight of one’s instinct.
（蒋坚松 译）
