《沉思录·卷三·写于卡尔农图姆》第1条
We ought to consider not only that our life is daily wasting away and a smaller part of it is left, but another thing also must be taken into the account, that if a man should live longer, it is quite uncertain whether the understanding will still continue sufficient for the comprehension of things, and retain the power of contemplation which strives to acquire the knowledge of the divine and the human. For if he shall begin to fall into dotage, perspiration and nutrition and imagination and appetite, and whatever else there is of the kind, will not fail; but the power of making use of ourselves, and filling up the measure of our duty, and clearly separating all appearances, and considering whether a man should now depart from life, and whatever else of the kind absolutely requires a disciplined reason,--all this is already extinguished. We must make haste, then, not only because we are daily nearer to death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.
注释摘要
这一条的逻辑推进得极快，而且带着一种在别处不太多见的紧迫感。奥勒留开头没有停留在"生命每天在流逝"这个常见的沉思主题上，他很快就翻到第二层，而这个第二层才是他真正想强调的。我们通常以为，只要寿命延长，思考的时间就更多，但事实恰恰可能相反：活得久，并不意味着理解力也跟着存活得久。 这里有一个斯多葛哲学的重要预设需要说清楚。他把人的各种功能分成了两组。一组是"…