《沉思录·卷四·退隐于自己的心》第19条
He who has a vehement desire for posthumous fame does not consider that every one of those who remember him will himself also die very soon; then again also they who have succeeded them, until the whole remembrance shall have been extinguished as it is transmitted through men who foolishly admire and perish. But suppose that those who will remember are even immortal, and that the remembrance will be immortal, what then is this to thee? And I say not what is it to the dead, but what is it to the living? What is praise, except + indeed so far as it has + a certain utility? For thou now rejectest unseasonably the gift of nature, clinging to something else ... +.
注释摘要
这一段话处理的是人心中对死后名声的渴望，这是一种极为顽固的自我意识的外延。奥勒留的论证层层推进，像剥洋葱一样将这种欲望剥到只剩下空壳。 他首先点出一个浅显却总被忽略的事实：那些将会记住你的人，自己也会很快死去。你以为你的名字会被传颂，但传颂你的那些嘴，一张接一张地归于尘土。然后，再下一代人接过这个记忆，再下一代，直到这整个链条断掉，记忆在时间中消散殆尽。这…