《沉思录·卷十·顺应整体》第32条
Let it not be in any man's power to say truly of thee that thou are not simple or that thou art not good; but let him be a liar whoever shall think anything of this kind about thee; and this is altogether in thy power. For who is he that shall hinder thee from being good and simple? Do thou only determine to live no longer unless thou shalt be such. For neither does reason allow [thee to live], if thou art not such.
注释摘要
这一条札记的起点，是一个人对自身道德品性的全权掌控。奥勒留把“单纯”与“善良”这两个词摆在一起，在斯多葛的语境里，单纯指的是灵魂的统合无分裂——理性不被种种互相矛盾的欲望与恐惧撕扯，不作伪饰，内外一致；善良则是拥有那种以明智、正义、勇敢、节制为实质的品格。因此，不被凡人说自己既不单纯又不善良，不是争辩别人必须夸我好，而是要自己立下这样一种状态：无论旁人如何…