本书简介：
《沉思录》是古罗马皇帝奥勒留写给自己的书，内容大部分是他在鞍马劳顿中写成的。作品来自奥勒留对身羁宫廷的自己和自己所处混乱世界的感受，追求一种冷静而达观的生活。这部著作是斯多葛学派的一个里程碑，亦是温总理放在枕边，读了不下百遍的书。
本书原文由古希腊文而作，英文版选择比较权威的George Long的版本，中文版选择何怀宏的版本作参考。笔记中的英文释义摘自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》

 作者简介：
马可•奥勒留（Marcus Aurelius，公元121—180年），著名的“帝王哲学家”，古罗马帝国皇帝，在希腊文学和拉丁文学、修辞、哲学、法律、绘画方面受过很好的教育，晚期斯多葛学派代表人物之一。奥勒留也许是西方历史上唯一的一位哲学家皇帝。他是一个比他的帝国更加完美的人，他的勤奋工作最终并没有能够挽救古罗马，但是他的《沉思录》却成为西方历史上的伟大名著。

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7.36 It is in thy power to live free from all compulsion in the greatest tranquility of mind, even if all the world cry out against thee as much as they choose, and even if wild beasts tear in pieces the members of this kneaded matter which has grown around thee. For what hinders the mind in the midst of all this from maintaining itself in tranquility and in a just judgement of all surrounding things and in a ready use of the objects which are presented to it, so that the judgement may say to the thing which falls under its observation: This thou art in substance (reality), though in men's opinion thou mayest appear to be of a different kind; and the use shall say to that which falls under the hand: Thou art the thing that I was seeking; for to me that which presents itself is always a material for virtue both rational and political, and in a word, for the exercise of art, which belongs to man or God. For everything which happens has a relationship either to God or man, and is neither new nor difficult to handle, but usual and apt matter to work on.

 Notes：
apt [adj] 1. suitable or appropriate in the circumstances
              2. likely or having a natural tendency to do something.
              用法：apt to be... e.g.: apt to be forgetful
                       apt to do something e.g.: Babies are apt to put objects into their mouths.
             apt pupil: a person who has a natural ability to learn and understand          

7.37 The gods who are immortal are not vexed because during so long a time they must tolerate continually men such as they are and so many of them bad; and besides this, they also take care of them in all ways. But thou, who art destined to end so soon, art thou wearied of enduring the bad, and this too when thou art one of them?

 Notes：
vex [v] vex somebody: to annoy or worry somebody.

7.38 The nature of the An moved to make the universe. But now either everything that takes place comes by way of consequence or continuity; or even the chief things towards which the ruling power of the universe directs its own movement are governed by no rational principle. If this is remembered it will make thee more tranquil in many things.

 先尝试自己翻译一下吧，参考译文见下：

中文翻译：
7.36 在心灵的最大宁静中免除所有压力而生活是在你的力量范围之内，即使全世界的人都尽其所欲地叫喊着反对你；即使野兽把裹着你的这一捏制的皮囊的各个撕成碎片。因为置身于所有阻碍物中的心灵，是在宁静中、在对所有周围的事物的一种正确的判断中，在对提交给它的物体的一种径直运用中坚持自己以致这判断可以对落入它的视线的事物说：你确实存在（是一实体），然而在人们的意见中你可以呈现为另一种不同的模样；这运用也将对落入它手的事物说：你是我正在追求的事物，因为对于我来说，那出现的事物始终是可以用于理智的和政治的德性的质料，一句话，是可以用于那属于人或神的艺术训练的。因为一切发生的事情都或者与神或者与人有一种联系，决不是新的和难于把握的，而是有用的和方便的工作材料。

7.37 不朽的神是不烦恼的，因为他们在如此长的时间里必须不断地忍受这样的人们，忍受他们中的许多恶人，此外，神也从各个方面关心他们。但是，作为注定很快要死去的人，你就厌倦了忍受恶人吗，而且当你是他们中的一个时也是这样？

7.38 大全的本性运动着产生宇宙。而现在发生的一切事物或者是作为结果、或者是作为连续出现的，甚或那宇宙支配力量本身的运动所指向的主要事物也不受理性原则的支配。如果记住这一点，将使你在很多事情中更为宁静。

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