【每日斯多葛】11月4日

November 4th

NOT GOOD, NOR BAD

“There is no evil in things changing, just as there is no good in persisting in a new state.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 4.42

When people say change is good, they’re usually trying to reassure someone (or themselves). Because instinctively we view change as bad—or at least we’re suspicious of it.

The Stoics want you to do away with those labels altogether. Change isn’t good. The status quo isn’t bad. They just are.

Remember, events are objective. It’s only our opinion that says something is good or bad (and thus worth fighting against or fighting for). A better attitude? To decide to make the most of everything. But to do that you must first cease fighting.

11月4日

无所谓好，也无所谓坏

“事物的变化本身并无恶可言，正如维持一种新的状态本身也并无善可言。”

——马可·奥勒留，《沉思录》，4.42

当人们说“改变是好事”时，通常是在安慰别人，或者安慰自己。因为出于本能，我们往往将变化视为坏事，至少也会对它心存戒备。

斯多葛哲学则希望我们彻底抛开这些善恶标签。变化本身并非好事，维持现状本身也并非坏事。它们只是如其所是。

请记住，事件本身是客观的。唯有我们的主观判断，才赋予它们好与坏的意义，并由此决定我们应当奋力反抗，还是努力争取。

那么，什么才是更好的态度？那就是决心充分利用所发生的一切。

但若要做到这一点，首先必须停止无谓的抗争。