《沉思录·卷十一·灵魂的属性》第16条
As to living in the best way, this power is in the soul, if it be indifferent to things which are indifferent. And it will be indifferent, if it looks on each of these things separately and all together, and if it remembers that not one of them produces in us an opinion about itself, nor comes to us; but these things remain immovable, and it is we ourselves who produce the judgments about them, and, as we may say, write them in ourselves, it being in our power not to write them, and it being in our power, if perchance these judgments have imperceptibly got admission to our minds, to wipe them out; and if we remember also that such attention will only be for a short time, and then life will be at an end. Besides, what trouble is there at all in doing this? For if these things are according to nature, rejoice in them and they will be easy to thee: but if contrary to nature, seek what is conformable to thy own nature, and strive towards this, even if it bring no reputation; for every man is allowed to seek his own good.
注释摘要
斯多葛派伦理学有一个核心区分，也是理解这段札记的钥匙：有些东西在道德上是好的（美德），有些是坏的（恶德），而绝大多数事物——财富、健康、名誉、权力，乃至寿命的长短——属于“中性的”或“无差别的”东西。这些东西本身既非善亦非恶，它们不会败坏灵魂，也无法自动使灵魂变得更好。马可·奥勒留在这里说，最高明的活法的根柢就藏在灵魂自身之中，前提是灵魂能够对这些无差别的…