《沉思录·卷六·宇宙即变化》第35条
Dost thou not see how the handicrafts-men accommodate themselves up to a certain point to those who are not skilled in their craft--nevertheless they cling to the reason [the principles] of their art, and do not endure to depart from it? Is it not strange if the architect and the physician shall have more respect to the reason [the principles] of their own arts than man to his own reason, which is common to him and the gods?
注释摘要
这一条的核心是一个类比推理，以工匠为镜来照见人的处境。凡是在某个手艺上有专长的人，面对外行时都会表现出一种双重态度——表面上可以迁就那些不懂行的人，做些变通，但内心深处对自己的技艺规则却绝不让步。建筑师不会因为业主不懂结构力学就同意拆掉承重墙，医生不会因为病人怕苦就放弃对症的药方。奥勒留从这里推进到一个尖锐的对比：工匠尚且如此忠于他们那门有限的技艺，那么作…