《菜根谭》英译（近纷华而不染、知机巧而不用）

涉世浅，点染亦浅；历世深，机械亦深。故君子与其练达，不若朴鲁；与其曲谨，不若疏狂。

A man with only slight experience of the world will likewise be only slightly stained with its impurities. A man well-versed in the ways of the world will likewise be replete with its tricks and treacheries. Therefore, it is better for the upright man to preserve the plainness of his inborn nature than to take pains to acquire worldly wisdom. It is also better for him to remain uninhibited and straightforward than to be equivocal and compromising.

（Paul White 译）

Those who mind the world lightly are also lightly stained by it; those who enter deeply into worldly affairs are mired in its calculating ways. Thus noble persons would rather be naïve than clever, relaxed rather than bent upon trifles.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）

A person who is less experienced in the world will equally be less stained with its undesirable trends. A person who has seen more of the world will equally be more trickery and crafty. It is therefore worthwhile for a man of moral integrity to remain honest and straightforward rather than become scheming and calculating, and remain large-mined and unrestrained rather than become overcautious and fainthearted.

（周文标 译）

One who has known little of the world will be little infected with its bad ways; one who has gained much experience of life will gain much worldly wisdom. Thus rather than experienced and worldly-wise, the junzi gentleman would be simple and slow-witted; rather than conciliatory and overcautious, he would be unrestrained and bold.

（蒋坚松 译）