《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的儒家经典，是一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。 其文字简炼明隽，兼采雅俗，言辞中流露出山林意趣，渗透着万物一体的世界观。开出的处世之方偏重心态和人事，悟虚妄真实之理，指出贫富、尊卑、穷达因为心念使善恶、祸福相互转换，告诫世人及时转念，戒贪少欲，取中庸之道。著作前后内容和深度有所不同，反映出了不同的阅历和境界。

《菜根谭》（人生百年、不可虚度）

天地有万古，此身不再得；人生只百年，此日最易过。幸生其间者，不可不知有生之乐，亦不可不怀虚生之忧。

Heaven and earth are everlasting, but the flesh of human being can never be regenerated. A man's life-span is only a hundred years long and will pass easily with the lapse of time. Those who are fortunate to have come to live in this world should not be unaware of the bliss being given life, nor should they disregard the concern that idling away time is censurable.

（周文标 译）

The universe lasts forever, but a man cannot live through all eternity. His lifespan is about 100 years, and even these 100 years pass quickly. If a man is fortunate to live long enough, he should taste the happiness of life, and at the same time keep in mind that to fritter away his days would be deplorable.

（Paul White 译）

Heaven and earth are eternal, while one's life can be lived only once. One's life has only a hundred years, and it is easily spent day by day. Those who are fortunate enough to live in the world must be aware of the happiness of life; they must also be fearful of wasting it.

（蒋坚松 译）

Though the world has a thousand ages, I'll never get another self. Though a life has a hundred years, the days go by so fast. One lucky enough to be born must come to know life's pleasures, and must harbor the worry of having lived in vain.

（Brian Bruya 译）

Though heaven-and-earth is eternal, I won't come into being a second time. Even in a life of a hundred years, the days slip by very quickly. It is my good fortune to have been born in this interval. I must not miss the chance to appreciate my life of happiness, nor allow myself to dwell upon empty existence.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）

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