【每日斯多葛】10月22日

October 22nd 

IT’S EASY TO GET BETTER, BUT BETTER AT WHAT?

“So someone’s good at taking down an opponent, but that doesn’t make them more community-minded, or modest, or well-prepared for any circumstance, or more tolerant of the faults of others.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.52

Self-improvement is a noble pursuit. Most people don’t even bother. But among those who do, it’s possible for vanity and superficiality to corrupt this process. Do you want six-pack abs because you are challenging yourself and committing to a difficult goal? Or is it because you want to impress people with your shirt off? Are you running that marathon because you want to test your limits or because you’re running away from your problems at home?

Our will shouldn’t be directed at becoming the person who is in perfect shape or who can speak multiple languages but who doesn’t have a second for other people. What’s the point of winning at sports but losing in the effort to be a good husband, wife, father, mother, son, or daughter? Let’s not confuse getting better at stuff with being a better person. One is a much bigger priority than the other.

10月22日 

进步很容易，但你究竟在哪方面进步？

“一个人也许很擅长击败对手，但这并不会使他更有群体意识、更谦逊、更能应对各种处境，或更能宽容别人的缺点。”

——马可·奥勒留，《沉思录》，7.52

自我提升是一项高尚的追求。大多数人甚至懒得去做。但即使在那些愿意自我提升的人当中，虚荣和肤浅也可能使这一过程变质。你想练出六块腹肌，是因为你想挑战自己，并为一个艰难的目标付出努力？还是因为你想脱掉上衣后让别人对你刮目相看？你去跑马拉松，是因为想测试自己的极限，还是因为你在逃避家里的问题？

我们的意志不应该只用来把自己变成一个身材完美的人，或者一个会说多种语言、却连一点时间都不愿留给别人的人。在体育上赢得再多，如果在努力成为一个好丈夫、好妻子、好父亲、好母亲、好儿子或好女儿这件事上失败了，又有什么意义？不要把“在某些事情上变得更厉害”与“成为一个更好的人”混为一谈。后者远比前者重要。