《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》（富贵如火、必将自焚）

生长富贵丛中的，嗜欲如猛火，权势似烈焰。若不带些清冷气味，其火焰不至焚人，必将自烁矣。

When people grow up in the households of wealthy families, their love of luxury and covetousness are like a raging fire, and their reliance on their power is like a searing flame. If they do not temper themselves with honest and plain aspirations, the fierce fire will consume themselves, if not others as well.

（保罗·怀特 译）

Those who were born and have grown up in a clan of riches and honor are mostly like this: their desires for material gains seem as fierce as prairie fire and their lust for power and influence as scorching as raging flames. If they do not harmonize their hearts with coolness, the fire and flames may unlikely burn others, but would burn themselves for sure.

（周文标 译）

Those from rich and powerful families have habits and desires like fierce fire, and power and influence like raging flames. If those people do not cool down with some simplicity and indifference, the fire will consume them though it does not burn others.

（蒋坚松 译）

Those who grow up in a setting of riches and honor are driven by greed like a raging fire. Their power and influence blaze furiously everywhere. If they cannot cultivate feelings that are little cooler, they might not burn others, but surely they will end up incinerating themselves.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）

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