《沉思录·卷八·行事与本分》第46条
Nothing can happen to any man which is not a human accident, nor to an ox which is not according to the nature of an ox, nor to a vine which is not according to the nature of a vine, nor to a stone which is not proper to a stone. If then there happens to each thing both what is usual and natural, why shouldst thou complain? For the common nature brings nothing which may not be borne by thee.
注释摘要
这条札记的论证结构很清晰：从个别到普遍，再从普遍给出一个生存指令。奥勒留把人的遭遇当作一个自然物种的偶性来考察。牛遭遇的是牛性范围内的事，葡萄藤遭遇的是葡萄藤性范围内的事，石头遭遇的是石头性范围内的事；那么人遭遇的，也必然不外乎人性范围内的事。这背后的前提是斯多葛自然哲学里那条根本命题：每一类存在者都有其特定的自然，这个自然规定了它如何运作、如何受动、如何…