《沉思录·卷五·天未亮就起身》第12条
What kind of things those are which appear good to the many, we may learn even from this. For if any man should conceive certain things as being really good, such as prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, he would not after having first conceived these endure to listen to anything+ which should not be in harmony with what is really good.+ But if a man has first conceived as good the things which appear to the many to be good, he will listen and readily receive as very applicable that which was said by the comic writer. +Thus even the many perceive the difference.+ For were it not so, this saying would not offend and would not be rejected [in the first case], while we receive it when it is said of wealth, and of the means which further luxury and fame, as said fitly and wittily. Go on then and ask if we should value and think those things to be good, to which after their first conception in the mind the words of the comic writer might be aptly applied,--that he who has them, through pure abundance has not a place to ease himself in.
注释摘要
这一条的论点建立在一个辛辣的心理实验之上。奥勒留想看透一样东西是否被谁当真，就看他对一句话的反应。他假定有人真诚地把明智、节制、正义、勇敢这四主德认作真正的善。这样的人在听到与这些品质完全不合拍的轻薄话时，本能上就忍受不了，因为那句话与他的基本价值不协调。反过来，如果一个人骨子里把财富、纵情声色的条件、名望视为好东西，那么当他听到同一句粗俗俏皮话被用在守财…