《沉思录·卷十二·此刻即全部》第36条
Man, thou hast been a citizen in this great state [the world]; what difference does it make to thee whether for five years [or three]? for that which is conformable to the laws is just for all. Where is the hardship then, if no tyrant nor yet an unjust judge sends thee away from the state, but nature, who brought thee into it? the same as if a praetor who has employed an actor dismisses him from the stage.--"But I have not finished the five acts, but only three of them."--Thou sayest well, but in life the three acts are the whole drama; for what shall be a complete drama is determined by him who was once the cause of its composition, and now of its dissolution: but thou art the cause of neither. Depart then satisfied, for he also who releases thee is satisfied.
注释摘要
这段话里，奥勒留同时用了两个比喻来重新看待死亡：一个是公民离开城邦，一个是演员离开舞台。两个比喻的着力点都在于“由谁来决定何时离开”。他先说，你在这个宇宙大城邦里做了一个公民，无论是五年还是三年，有什么不同呢？只要是合乎法律的，对所有人就是公正的。真正的关键不在于任期长短，而在于你有没有在任期里活成一个好公民应该有的样子。然后他马上想象一种反驳的声音：可是…