《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。其文字简炼明隽，兼采雅俗。似语录，而有语录所没有的趣味；似随笔，而有随笔所不易及的整饬；似训诫，而有训诫所缺乏的亲切醒豁。
《菜根谭》（气象高旷、心思缜密）
气象要高旷，而不可疏狂；心思要缜密，而不可琐屑；趣味要冲淡，而不可偏枯；操守要严明，而不可激烈。
A man must be tolerant and broad-minded, but not unfettered and freewheeling. His thoughts must be meticulous and careful, but not trifling and cluttered. His temperament must be tranquil and plain, but not insipid and monotonous. His words and actions must be well-ordered and explicit, but not impulsive or extreme.
（保罗·怀特 译）
A man's makings must be dignified rather than unbridled. His thoughts must be deliberate rather than trifling. His temperament must be mild rather than lopsided. His behaviors must be impartial rather than extreme and untrammeled.
（周文标 译）
One's bearing should be lofty and free, but not unbridled; one's thinking should be careful and meticulous, but not trivial; one's habits should be few and simple, but not austere; one's principles should be rigorous and strict, but not extreme.
（蒋坚松 译）
