《沉思录·卷七·痛苦与忍受》第68条
It is in thy power to live free from all compulsion in the greatest tranquillity of mind, even if all the world cry out against thee as much as they choose, and even if wild beasts tear in pieces the members of this kneaded matter which has grown around thee. For what hinders the mind in the midst of all this from maintaining itself in tranquillity and in a just judgment of all surrounding things and in a ready use of the objects which are presented to it, so that the judgment may say to the thing which falls under its observation: This thou art in substance [reality], though in men's opinion thou mayest appear to be of a different kind; and the use shall say to that which falls under the hand: Thou art the thing that I was seeking; for to me that which presents itself is always a material for virtue both rational and political, and in a word, for the exercise of art, which belongs to man or God. For everything which happens has a relationship either to God or man, and is neither new nor difficult to handle, but usual and apt matter to work on.
注释摘要
奥勒留在这里做了一个极其大胆的宣称，他把心灵自由的边界推到了斯多葛伦理学所能允许的极限。他要论证的是，内心的绝对平静不受任何外在暴力的威胁，哪怕全世界都在诅咒你，哪怕野兽正在撕咬你的身体。这不是一种麻木的忍痛，而是一种对心灵主权的彻底肯定。 关键在于他对身体的重命名——"这团被揉捏起来的、围绕着你长出来的质料"。用如此疏离的语词描述自己的肉身，是为了在观念…