《沉思录·卷四·退隐于自己的心》第32条
Consider, for example, the times of Vespasian. Thou wilt see all these things, people marrying, bringing up children, sick, dying, warring, feasting, trafficking, cultivating the ground, flattering, obstinately arrogant, suspecting, plotting, wishing for some to die, grumbling about the present, loving, heaping up treasure, desiring consulship, kingly power. Well, then, that life of these people no longer exists at all. Again, remove to the times of Trajan. Again, all is the same. Their life too is gone. In like manner view also the other epochs of time and of whole nations, and see how many after great efforts soon fell and were resolved into the elements. But chiefly thou shouldst think of those whom thou hast thyself known distracting themselves about idle things, neglecting to do what was in accordance with their proper constitution, and to hold firmly to this and to be content with it. And herein it is necessary to remember that the attention given to everything has its proper value and proportion. For thus thou wilt not be dissatisfied, if thou appliest thyself to smaller matters no further than is fit.
注释摘要
奥勒留在这里展开的是一个简单但彻底的思想实验。他选取两个时间点，韦斯巴芗时代和图拉真时代，快速列出一长串人类活动：婚嫁、育儿、生病、死亡、征战、宴饮、贸易、耕种、奉承、傲慢、猜忌、谋算、渴求别人死、埋怨当下、爱欲、聚敛、追求权位。然后他做的，不是对任何一项作法理或道德评判，而是指出这些活动的共同归宿：那条生命已经完全不存在了。重复一遍，从韦斯巴芗到图拉真，…