《沉思录·卷四·退隐于自己的心》第39条
What is evil to thee does not subsist in the ruling principle of another; nor yet in any turning and mutation of thy corporeal covering. Where is it then? It is in that part of thee in which subsists the power of forming opinions about evils. Let this power then not form [such] opinions, and all is well. And if that which is nearest to it, the poor body, is cut, burnt, filled with matter and rottenness, nevertheless let the part which forms opinions about these things be quiet; that is, let it judge that nothing is either bad or good which can happen equally to the bad man and the good. For that which happens equally to him who lives contrary to nature and to him who lives according to nature, is neither according to nature nor contrary to nature.
注释摘要
这一段的核心是一个斯多葛派的基本追问：恶，到底在哪里？奥勒留用排除法层层收紧，最后指向一个唯一的源头。他先说，恶不在别人心里那个主宰能力里。别人怎么想、怎么做，是别人的事，并不直接构成我的恶。接着他又说，恶也不在我这个会变化、会朽坏的肉身覆盖物上。身体会受伤、会生病，但那只是物质层面的变化。那么恶在哪里？他给出的答案是：恶只存在于我自身那个能够形成意见的部…