October 8th
A HIGHER PLEASURE
"Yes, getting your wish would have been so nice. But isn't that exactly why pleasure trips us up? Instead, see if these things might be even nicer—a great soul, freedom, honesty, kindness, saintliness. For there is nothing so pleasing as wisdom itself, when you consider how sure-footed and effortless the works of understanding and knowledge are."
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.9
Nobody can argue that pleasure doesn't feel good. That's pretty much what it does by definition.
But today Marcus Aurelius is reminding you—just as he reminded himself—that those pleasures hardly stand up to virtue. The dopamine rush that comes from sex is momentary. So is the pride of an accomplishment or the hearty applause of a crowd. These pleasures are powerful, but they wear off and leave us wanting more. What lasts longer (and remains more within our circle of control)? Wisdom, good character, sobriety, and kindness.
10月8日
更高层次的快乐
"是的，如愿以偿本来会很美好。但快乐之所以让我们绊倒，不正是因为这一点吗？不妨看看这些东西是否可能更美好——伟大的灵魂、自由、诚实、善良、圣洁。因为没有什么比智慧本身更令人愉悦，当你想想理解与知识的运作是多么稳健而毫不费力的时候。"
——马可·奥勒留,《沉思录》,5.9
没有人能争辩说快乐不让人感觉美好。就定义而言，快乐大体上就是如此。
但今天,马可·奥勒留在提醒你——正如他提醒自己那样——这些快乐在美德面前几乎不堪一击。性爱带来的多巴胺冲击转瞬即逝。成就带来的自豪，或人群热烈的掌声，也是如此。这些快乐很强烈，但会消退，并让我们渴望更多。什么更持久(而且更多地处于我们的控制圈之内)?智慧、良好的品格、节制和善良。
读要读顺口，写要写顺手， 擒字如擒虎，解句如解题。 |