《沉思录·卷十·顺应整体》第1条
Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee? Wilt thou never enjoy an affectionate and contented disposition? Wilt thou never be full and without a want of any kind, longing for nothing more, nor desiring anything, either animate or inanimate, for the enjoyment of pleasures? nor yet desiring time wherein thou shalt have longer enjoyment, or place, or pleasant climate, or society of men with whom thou mayst live in harmony? but wilt thou be satisfied with thy present condition, and pleased with all that is about thee, and wilt thou convince thyself that thou hast everything, and that it comes from the gods, that everything is well for thee, and will be well whatever shall please them, and whatever they shall give for the conservation of the perfect living being, the good and just and beautiful, which generates and holds together all things, and contains and embraces all things which are dissolved for the production of other like things? Wilt thou never be such that thou shalt so dwell in community with gods and men as neither to find fault with them at all, nor to be condemned by them?
注释摘要
这是整卷开头的一段灵魂自问，也是一次痛苦的自我诊断。奥勒留不是在宣布自己已经达到了某种境界，而是对自己发出连续的质问：我的灵魂啊，你到底什么时候才能变得善良、单纯、一体而赤裸？这一连串问题不是修辞，而是日记里真实的挫败感。他日复一日地在军营帐篷里写下这些，恰恰说明他觉得自己还没有做到。所以他用“难道永远不吗”这样的句式反复敲打自己，像一个人深夜对着镜子问：…