《沉思录·卷三·写于卡尔农图姆》第8条
In the mind of one who is chastened and purified thou wilt find no corrupt matter, nor impurity, nor any sore skinned over. Nor is his life incomplete when fate overtakes him, as one may say of an actor who leaves the stage before ending and finishing the play. Besides, there is in him nothing servile, nor affected, nor too closely bound [to other things], nor yet detached [from other things], nothing worthy of blame, nothing which seeks a hiding-place.
注释摘要
奥勒留在这里描绘的是一种经过长期自我训练之后所达到的心灵境界。他说这样一个人心里没有腐坏的东西，没有杂质，也没有那种表皮愈合但底下仍然化脓的伤疤。这个意象很关键：斯多葛派并不认为人应该变得麻木或者无情，而是主张把激情的根源彻底清除，而不是简单地压抑或者遮盖。表面结了痂的伤口看起来好了，其实还在溃烂，这恰恰对应着那些表面上克制、内心却仍然被愤怒、嫉妒或恐惧支…