人们心中本有一部真正的好文章，可惜被内容不健全的杂乱文章给封闭了；心灵深处本有最美妙的乐曲，可惜却被一些妖歌艳舞给迷惑了。所以一个有学问的人，必须排除一切外来物欲的引诱，直接用自己的智慧寻求本性，才能求得受用不尽的真学问。

《菜根谭·扫除外物 直觅本来》 洪应明

人心有一部真文章，都被残篇断简封锢了；有一部真鼓吹，都被妖歌艳舞淹没了。学者须扫除外物，直觅本来，才有个真受用。

In everyone's heat there is a book of truth. But it is torn and incomplete, and its message is blurred. Deep in everyone's spirit is a beautiful melody, but it is drowned by lascivious chords. He who hankers after knowledge must reject all external temptations, and seek the essence of human nature. Only then will he be able to acquire really useful knowledge.