《菜根谭·概论》
清廉纯洁又能包容，心地仁慈又能当机立断，内心聪明而又不失于观察，性情刚直而又不矫枉过正。这就像是蜜饯不觉其甜，海鲜不觉其咸，如此尺度才是真正的美德。
清能有容，仁能善断，明不伤察，直不过矫，是谓蜜饯不甜、海味不咸，才是懿德。
Incorruptibility, purity, and tolerance, and kindness and decisiveness, intelligence without losing observation, integrity without overcorrection. It is like candied fruit without sweetness, seafood without saltiness. This scale is the real virtue.