《沉思录·卷七·痛苦与忍受》第16条
The ruling faculty does not disturb itself; I mean, does not frighten itself or cause itself pain.+ But if any one else can frighten or pain it, let him do so. For the faculty itself will not by its own opinion turn itself into such ways. Let the body itself take care, if it can, that it suffer nothing, and let it speak, if it suffers. But the soul itself, that which is subject to fear, to pain, which has completely the power of forming an opinion about these things, will suffer nothing, for it will never deviate+ into such a judgment. The leading principle in itself wants nothing, unless it makes a want for itself; and therefore it is both free from perturbation and unimpeded, if it does not disturb and impede itself.
注释摘要
这段文字堪称斯多葛派关于内心自由的极致宣言。奥勒留在多瑙河畔的军帐里，面对着战事、瘟疫与帝国的重重压力，反复向自己申述一个核心命题：心灵的独立性与不可侵犯性。这里的“ruling faculty”，希腊文即hegemonikon，是斯多葛派指认的那个内在于人的主宰能力、理性指导原则。它并非某种玄奥的实体，而是你我心中那一个能形成判断、给予或撤销同意的官能。…