《菜根谭》英译（栖守道德、毋阿权贵）

栖守道德者，寂寞一时；依阿权势者，凄凉万古。达人观物外之物，思身后之身，宁受一时之寂寞，毋取万古之凄凉。

Those who preserve their moral integrity suffer only fleeting loneliness. But eternal wretchedness awaits those who toady to the powerful. Wise men fix their gaze on spiritual cultivation, which transcends material things. They wish to leave a good name after them, and choose fleeting loneliness over eternal wretchedness.

（Paul White 译）

Those dwelling in the house of virtue may be lonely at times, but those who prosper by fawning upon the powerful are forlornly alone for ten thousand ages. The master looks to matters that are beyond matters, and muses on the body that is beyond the body. It is better to be lonely at times than to face ten thousand ages of forlornness.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）

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.

（周文标 译）

Those who insist on integrity may be solitary temporarily. Those who hang on to corruptive power can be lonely forever. A sage looks beyond earthly possessions and lifetime. Temporary solitude is preferred over eternal loneliness.

（李兆良 译）

Those who remain scrupulously virtuous may be lonely and obscure for a time; those who attach themselves to bigwigs will be miserable and dreary forever. The wise and sensible person, seeing through the material and thinking of his reputation after death, will prefer temporary loneliness and obscurity to eternal misery and dreariness.

（蒋坚松 译）