《沉思录·卷三·写于卡尔农图姆》第5条
Labor not unwillingly, nor without regard to the common interest, nor without due consideration, nor with distraction; nor let studied ornament set off thy thoughts, and be not either a man of many words, or busy about too many things. And further, let the deity which is in thee be the guardian of a living being, manly and of ripe age, and engaged in matter political, and a Roman, and a ruler, who has taken his post like a man waiting for the signal which summons him from life, and ready to go, having need neither of oath nor of any man's testimony. Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.
注释摘要
这一段话是奥勒留在军营里给自己写下的行为准则，一共铺开了好几个层面，但核心始终围绕着同一件事：人要怎样支配自己的行动，才算活得整全。他先用一连串否定把容易走偏的方向封住：不要不情愿地劳作，不要不顾共同利益，不要不加审虑，不要心神涣散，也不要让文饰装点你的思想，不要多言，也不要忙乱于太多事务。这里的每一个否定都指向斯多葛行动哲学里的一个要点。不情愿是意志出了…