《沉思录·卷八·行事与本分》第37条
Does Panthea or Fergamus now sit by the tomb of Verus? Does Chaurias or Diotimus sit by the tomb of Hadrianus? That would be ridiculous. Well, suppose they did sit there, would the dead be conscious of it? and if the dead were conscious, would they be pleased? and if they were pleased, would that make them immortal? Was it not in the order of destiny that these persons too should first become old women and old men and then die? What then would those do after these were dead? All this is foul smell and blood in a bag.
注释摘要
奥勒留在这一条里使用了一种层层推进的追问来拆解人对死后哀荣的执念。他先举了几个具体的人名——Panthea、Fergamus、Chaurias、Diotimus——问他们现在还守在Verus或Hadrianus的墓旁吗。这个设问本身就带着一种冷峻的讽刺：谁会在墓边坐一辈子？世事早已流转，哀悼者早已散场。紧接着，他把问题推向更深处：就算他们还在那里守着，死者…