《沉思录·卷三·写于卡尔农图姆》第13条
As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do thou have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human, and for doing everything, even the smallest, with a recollection of the bond which unites the divine and human to one another. For neither wilt thou do anything well which pertains to man without at the same time having a reference to things divine; nor the contrary.
注释摘要
这段文字用一个紧凑的比喻道出了斯多葛派伦理实践的核心要求。奥勒留把我们日常所需要的哲学准则比作医生手边常备的器械和手术刀。医生不能等到伤员抬到面前才开始琢磨该用什么器具，同样，人也不能在每一次具体情境中临时去找判断的标准。必须在心灵中事先储存好一套已经锤炼过的原则，碰到任何事，哪怕是最微不足道的小事，都能立刻取出使用。这里“原则”一词在斯多葛传统里特指经过…