1. Rather stick to moral integrity than be attached to the powerful and influential.
栖守道德者，寂寞一时；依阿①权势者，凄凉万古。达人观物外之物②，思身后之身③；宁受一时之寂寞，毋取万古之凄凉。
注 释
① 依阿：依附讨好。
② 物外之物：物质之外的东西。此处指精神财富或精神价值。
③ 身后之身：人死后留在世上的名声。
今文解译
谨守道德的人，也许会寂寞一时；而依附权贵的人，则必然会凄凉一辈子。豁达的人看重的是精神层面的东西以及自己身后的名声。所以，他们宁肯忍受寂寞于一时，也不愿意凄凉孤寂一辈子。
English Translation
Those who stick to their moral integrity might be lonesome for a time. Whereas, those who cling to the powerful and influential will surely become desolate for good and all. To a well-cultivated person, the worthiest are the gains beyond material and the name after him. It is because of this that he had rather endure momentary loneliness than receive endless desolation.


15. Be chivalrous in getting along with friends and unadorned in conducting yourself.
交友须带三分侠气；做人要存一点素心。
今文解译
交朋友要有些豪爽仗义的气概；做人要有点不张扬的平常心态。
English Translation
Be somewhat chivalrous when you get along with friends.
Be a bit unadorned when you conduct yourself in society.


赵丽宏
《菜根谭》为明人洪应明所著，是一部内容丰富、充满智慧和哲理的奇书。其形式是格言体，三百余段，每段篇幅简短，语言精湛生动，深入浅出，耐人寻味。作者通晓中国古代哲人的学说和思想，孔孟老庄，儒道佛法，取其精义，归于禅宗。书中的内容，涉及人世万象，劝善，立志，处世，修身，养性，品尝天地间形形色色的美妙景象，可谓无处不达，无所不包。因其睿智的思想，豁达的心境，清新的语境，并描绘出种种令人向往的人生佳境，数百年来流传于民间，不仅被文人赞赏，也被普通百姓喜欢，成为一本广受欢迎的书。所谓“咬得菜根，百事可做”，“布衣暖，菜根香，读书滋味长”。这些民间俗语，其实都是对这本书的赞扬。
对这本奇书，历来曾经有不少解读，原著的文字，衍生出很多后人心得，古老的文字，历久弥新，被不同时代的读者读出新的意味。此书的影响，不仅在国内，也流传到了国外，日本、韩国、东南亚，都有《菜根谭》引发的回声。现在，上海人民出版社将出版一本中英文对照的《菜根谭》，我想，这对学习英文的中国读者是一件幸事，对正在学习中文、对中国文化有兴趣的英文读者，更是一件意义非凡的事情。
本书的译者周文标先生，很多年前曾领衔将篇幅浩瀚的英文版《世界名言博引辞典》翻译成中文，并以一己之力根据汉语习惯重新编列分辑，成为翻译出版界的一个壮举。这次，周文标选择将《菜根谭》转译成英文，有眼光，也有勇气。把这样一本古书翻译成英文，对一个中国人来说，绝非易事，除了精通英文，还必须对博大精深的中国传统文化有深入准确的理解。将数百年前的涵义幽深的中国古语转换成异国文字，会遇到多少障碍，可以想象，但是周文标没有被难倒。呈现在读者眼前的这本汉英对照《菜根谭》，是周文标先生多年心血的结晶。我相信，在品读此书时，读者会对这位为中国文化搭建汉英沟通桥梁的翻译家产生由衷的敬意。
是为序。
2008年6月12日于上海四步斋
译者按：
以上是上海市作家协会副主席赵丽宏先生2008年6月为本人的汉英对照《菜根谭》单行本所赐的《序》，此次百花洲文艺出版社出版合装《处世三奇书》汉英对照本，仍沿用作《菜根谭》的序，谨以再次表示本人对赵丽宏先生的感谢和敬意。


Zhao Lihong
The Roots of Wisdom, written by Hong Yingming in the Ming Dynasty, is a rare book which contains abundant perspectives, wisdom and philosophy. With its literary form embodied in maxim, the book is composed of more than three hundred short writings, from which there can be seen striking expressions, simply-explained profoundness and thought-provoking substances. By reading the book, we will be strongly impressed by the author’s rich accumulation of the theories of the ancient sages in Chinese history, his knowledge ranging from the thoughts of Confucius, Mencius, Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi to the relevant doctrines involved in Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Legalism, as well as his successful exploits in extracting the essences therein and putting them into meditation in the way of Chan. So what he presented in his book are mostly related to the substantial issues regarding myriad affairs of the human world, exhortations on people’s doing good and enlightenment for them on how to determine their will, regulate their conduct, cultivate their inner power and refine their personal dispositions. In addition, the book also unfolds before our eyes a big variety of subtle views existing between the heaven and earth. It can be said that it stops at nothing and nothing is left out.
It is because of the fantastic features manifested in its context such as intelligent ideology, broad-mindedness, fresh extent of wording and phrasing and enormous desirable braveries of life that the book, during the hundreds of years of circulation, has been not only appreciated by men of letters but also cherished by the common people, thereby coming out as a rare book universally welcomed. As a matter of fact, the proverbs like “One who can endure chewing vegetable root will find nothing is difficult.” and “Course clothes give warmth and vegetable roots fragrance, while indulgence in study brings about lifelong benefit.” are all considered to be the plaudits for the book.
There have been many different annotations and interpretations on the words and expressions contained in this rare book since its appearance. The dictions used in it have been evolved into numerous understandings all through the ages. The implied meanings of the vocabulary have been renewed from time to time and yet remain new to the readers of the coming generations. Its influence has flowed widely not merely within China but also without, wherefrom its echoes have been now and then sounding from Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
Now Shanghai People’s Publishing House is to publish The Roots of Wisdom in the version of Chinese-English. I would like to take this chance to say that the publication of the translation is a piece of good news to Chinese readers who are now engaged in English learning and also an event even more significant to those English-speaking people who are interested in Chinese culture.
Many years ago, Mr. Zhou Wenbiao, the translator of The Roots of Wisdom, lead an English-to-Chinese translation of The Home Book of Quotations (compiled by Burton Stevenson) and recompiled it single-handedly in accordance with Chinese phonetic alphabet, and thus created a remarkable precedent for the dictionaries of this kind in China. This time Mr. Zhou takes The Roots of Wisdom as his new rendering which manifests again the sense of his exertion and confidence. For having such an ancient book translated from Chinese into English is no easy matter for an unadulterated Chinese. To do it well there must come into play a good command of English language and a deep, precise understanding of Chinese traditional culture as well. So it can be imagined that Mr. Zhou must have encountered many difficulties in his rendering into English those old Chinese with profound meanings of several centuries prior. Be that as it was, he was not baffled and what he contemplated three years ago has now come true in the very publication he presents to us. No wonder when readers have the book in their hands there would surely well up in their hearts the appreciation for the translator who has done his part in putting up a bridge to connect Chinese and English cultures.
It’s my pleasure to write this preface for the book as above.
Four-Pace Study in Shanghai
June, 12th 2008
Translator’s Note:
Above is the preface written by Mr. Zhao Lihong, vice president of Shanghai Writers Association, in June 2008. It’s my honor to have his preface reused as the introduction to The Roots of Wisdom in the publication of Chinese-English version of Three Canons of Personal Cultivation issued by Baihuazhou Literature and Art Press, and hereby to express again my heartfelt gratitude and respect to him.


6. Harmony and happiness are agreeable to both Nature and human beings.
疾风怒雨，禽鸟戚戚①；霁日光风②，草木欣欣。可见天地不可一日无和气，人心不可一日无喜神③。
注 释
① 戚戚：忧愁悲哀之状。
② 霁日光风：雨过天晴的明朗景象。
③ 喜神：喜悦的神态，欢快的心情。
今文解译
狂风暴雨中，鸟兽都凄惨无比；天气晴朗时，草木都生机勃勃。由此可见，天地间没有一天是可以不安宁的，人的心情没有一天是可以不愉悦的。
English Translation
When the wind rages and the rain pours down, even the birds and animals are caught in tragedy. But when the sun comes out shining and the wind turns mild, the very grasses and trees are all immersed in delightfulness. Thus it can be seen that in Nature — not a single day could pass peacefully if celestial and terrestrial forces fail to go in harmony; and in the world of men — not a single day could be spent well if people are deprived of happy mood.