《沉思录·卷十·顺应整体》第19条
Consider what men are when they are eating, sleeping, generating, easing themselves, and so forth. Then what kind of men they are when they are imperious + and arrogant, or angry and scolding from their elevated place. But a short time ago to how many they were slaves and for what things; and after a little time consider in what a condition they will be.
注释摘要
这一段是奥勒留进行的一种斯多葛式的观点练习。他不是在鄙视或嘲弄人类，而是在试图瓦解那种让他心生烦恼的虚假幻象。你看着那些不可一世、颐指气使的人，觉得他们高高在上，让你感到压抑或愤怒。奥勒留给你的解药，是一个极其朴素的观察：把他们还原到最基本的生理层面。吃饭、睡觉、繁衍、排泄。这是他首先让你做的事。他并不是要说人是畜生，而是要你看到，在所有这些社会身份、权力…