《菜根谭》英译（持身勿轻、用心勿重）

士君子持身不可轻，轻则物能扰我，而无悠闲镇定之趣；用意不可重，重则我为物泥，而无潇洒活泼之机。

A man of learning should not behave himself with frivolousness; if he does, he first will be perplexed by the material temptations from without and then will lose the temperament of leisure and composure from within. Meanwhile, he should also not give too much thought to his own interest; if he does, he first will be fettered by the material temptations and then will be deprived of the unrestrained vivacity.

（周文标 译）

The learned man should behave with discretion. If he fails to do so, he will make himself vulnerable to external distractions, and will be unable to engage in leisurely and untroubled pursuits. When he applies his mind to something, he should avoid being obsessed with it. If he fails to do so, he will become a slave of the external forces and will not be able to enjoy unrestrained and lively pleasures.

（Paul White 译）

As a noble person I am not flighty in manner. Otherwise I will easily be moved by circumstances, and that’s not conducive to calm and settled judgments. At the same time, I am not too unyielding in my judgments, or my vitality would be disabled and my performance muddied.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）