《沉思录·卷十·顺应整体》第6条
Whether the universe is [a concourse of] atoms, or nature [is a system], let this first be established, that I am a part of the whole which is governed by nature; next, I am in a manner intimately related to the parts which are of the same kind with myself. For remembering this, inasmuch as I am a part, I shall be discontented with none of the things which are assigned to me out of the whole; for nothing is injurious to the part if it is for the advantage of the whole. For the whole contains nothing which is not for its advantage; and all natures indeed have this common principle, but the nature of the universe has this principle besides, that it cannot be compelled even by any external cause to generate anything harmful to itself. By remembering, then, that I am a part of such a whole, I shall be content with everything that happens. And inasmuch as I am in a manner intimately related to the parts which are of the same kind with myself, I shall do nothing unsocial, but I shall rather direct myself to the things which are of the same kind with myself, and I shall turn all my efforts to the common interest, and divert them from the contrary. Now, if these things are done so, life must flow on happily, just as thou mayst observe that the life of a citizen is happy, who continues a course of action which is advantageous to his fellow-citizens, and is content with whatever the state may assign to him.
注释摘要
这段论述是奥勒留整个思想体系的一个微型标本，其论证结构异常清晰：先确立人的双重身份，再从这两种身份分别推导出两种基本的人生态度。这里的起点是一个看似抽象的宇宙论问题——宇宙究竟是一堆原子的偶然聚合，还是一个由理性秩序贯穿的自然整体？奥勒留并未在这两种可能之间做出独断裁决，而是采取了一个极聪明的策略：无论你持哪一种立场，都不影响接下来的推论，因为真正要紧的是…