《沉思录·卷八·行事与本分》第3条
Alexander and Caius and Pompeius, what are they in comparison with Diogenes and Heraclitus and Socrates? For they were acquainted with things, and their causes [forms], and their matter, and the ruling principles of these men were the same [or conformable to their pursuits]. But as to the others, how many things had they to care for, and to how many things were they slaves!
注释摘要
在斯多葛派的核心关切中，没有什么比清醒认识价值等级更重要的了。这一段话正是通过一个剧烈的对比来实现这种认识的。奥勒留把亚历山大大帝、盖乌斯·凯撒（这里很可能指尤利乌斯·凯撒）和庞培放在天平的一端，把第欧根尼、赫拉克利特和苏格拉底放在另一端。前者是征服者，是罗马人眼中功业的巅峰；后者是哲学家，是灵魂秩序的楷模。然后他问：前者跟后者比，算得了什么？答案不言自明…