《沉思录·卷十一·灵魂的属性》第10条
There is no nature which is inferior to art, for the arts imitate the natures of things. But if this is so, that nature which is the most perfect and the most comprehensive of all natures, cannot fall short of the skill of art Now all arts do the inferior things for the sake of the superior; therefore the universal nature does so too. And, indeed, hence is the origin of justice, and in justice the other virtues have their foundation: for justice will not be observed, if we either care for middle things [things indifferent], or are easily deceived and careless and changeable (v. 16. 30; vii. 55).
注释摘要
这一段在做一个层层递进的类比论证。起手处，奥勒留确立了一个前提：没有哪种自然低于技艺，因为一切技艺本质上都是对自然的模仿。这里的“艺术”（art）在古希腊语境里指的是制作性的技艺，不只是今天说的美术。技艺能做出来的东西，其原型和可能性已经先在地存在于自然的秩序里了。所以，自然作为原型，在等级上永远高于模仿它的技艺。这是斯多葛派从亚里士多德那里接过来并加以改…