昨日之非不可留，留之则根烬复萌，而尘情终累乎理趣；今日之是不可执，执之则渣滓未化，而理趣反转为欲根。
《菜根谭》
中文释义：
过去的错误不可以遗留，留下它就会枯根余烬再次萌发，这样凡心俗情终将累及于义理情趣；现在正确的不可以执着，坚持它就是残渣余滓未曾化解，这样义理情趣反而转化为情欲根源。
English translation:
“The mistakes and negative sides of past should not be left there, otherwise it will somehow be recalled sometime and bring back the unfavorable influences like the burnt left roots could still sprout shoots, which will become a drag on you;
The things that seem correct at present are also shouldn’t be held too tight, otherwise, it will be like the unresolved dregs, the reasonable sides would be transformed to be stubborn biases.”
— Translated by Wenzheng
The Caigentan (Chinese: 菜根譚; lit.: ‘Vegetable Root Discourse’) is circa 1590 text written by the Ming Dynasty scholar and philosopher Hong Zicheng (Chinese: 洪自誠).
The title could be clarified as meaning “Talks by a man who lives on vegetable roots”, or more freely “Talks by a man who lives a plain and humble life”.
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