四○、欲路勿染 理路勿退

40. Do not act willfully in pursuing material gains, nor shrink back in seeking the truth.

欲路上事①，毋樂其便而姑為染指，一染指便深入萬仞；理路上事②，毋憚其難而稍為退步，一退步便遠隔千山。

【注 釋】

① 欲路上事：物質上的追求。

② 理路上事：對真理的探索。

【今文解譯】

追求物質利益時，切不可為圖一時之便而姑妄為之，一旦放縱涉事就會跌入萬丈深淵。

在探索真理的過程中，切不可因為有畏難情緒而退縮，一旦退縮就會和真理相去千山萬水。

【English Translation】

When you pursue material gains, do not act willfully for the love of convenience. If you do, you will surely fall into an abyss of one hundred thousand feet.

When you seek the truth, do not flinch for fear of difficulties. If you do, you will inevitably be separated from the truth by a thousand mountains.