《沉思录·卷十·顺应整体》第28条
Imagine every man who is grieved at anything or discontented to be like a pig which is sacrificed and kicks and screams. Like this pig also is he who on his bed in silence laments the bonds in which we are held. And consider that only to the rational animal is it given to follow voluntarily what happens; but simply to follow is a necessity imposed on all.
注释摘要
奥勒留在这里用了一个极其粗粝、几乎冒犯现代感受的比喻：那只被献祭的猪。猪在被宰杀时拼命蹬踹嚎叫，但它的挣扎改变不了任何事。奥勒留并不是在轻蔑人的痛苦，而是在解剖一个斯多葛派的根本命题——你对已经在发生的事所做的内心抵抗，除了增加一层额外的自我撕裂之外，什么也改变不了。他甚至把那只猪的遭遇再推进一步：还有一种人，躺在床上，不叫不闹，暗中哀叹“我们所受的束缚”…