Are you in search of a life filled with tranquility, happiness, and meaningful pleasures? Join us on a journey through the timeless wisdom of Epicurus, as we explore Epicurus quotes that unravel the secrets to living a fulfilling and contented existence.
In a world filled with distractions and the constant pursuit of material possessions, Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher, offers a refreshing perspective on what truly matters in life.
Through his profound quotes, Epicurus encourages us to seek inner peace, cultivate genuine friendships, and find joy in the simple pleasures that surround us.
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Brief Introduction of Epicurus
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 BCE. He founded the philosophical school known as Epicureanism, which emphasized the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain as the ultimate goals of life. Epicurus believed that true pleasure comes from living a simple and virtuous life, free from unnecessary desires and fears.
Here are some interesting facts about Epicurus:
- The Garden, where Epicurus taught, was a place of intellectual discourse and communal living. It became a haven for his followers, who engaged in philosophical discussions and shared a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle.
- Epicurus did not support modern hedonism. Instead, he promoted moderate pleasures and avoided unnecessary desires that could lead to unhappiness.
- He believed in atoms as the universe’s fundamental building blocks, including the human soul.
- Epicurus believed in determinism, the idea that all events are caused by natural factors and that human actions are influenced by external forces rather than free will.
- He emphasized simplicity and advocated for a modest, self-sufficient lifestyle, warning against excessive material possessions and desires.
- His famous work, “Letter to Menoeceus,” outlines his ethical teachings.
Famous Epicurus Quotes Live by
He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.
Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.
The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.
He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.
Being happy is knowing how to be content with little.
Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.
I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.
Do everything like someone is gazing at you.
The most important consequence of self-sufficiency is freedom.
Some men spend their whole life furnishing for themselves the things proper to life without realizing that at our birth each of us was poured a mortal brew to drink.
Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.
It is not the pretended but the real pursuit of philosophy that is needed for we do not need the appearance of good health but to enjoy it in truth.
I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.
If you would enjoy real freedom, you must be the slave of Philosophy.
Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search of it when he has grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul.
A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.
The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.
Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.
Epicurus Quotes on Life, Death, and God
Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.
If the gods listened to the prayers of men, all humankind would quickly perish since they constantly pray for many evils to befall one another.
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.
Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.
Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not coming, and, when death is coming, we are not.
He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.
The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.
Don’t fear the gods, and Don’t worry about death; What is good is easy to get, and What is terrible is easy to endure.
Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?
If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires
To be rich is not the end, but only a change, of worries.
It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet than to have a golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble.
The gods can either take away evil from the world and will not, or, being willing to do so cannot; or they neither can nor will, or lastly, they are able and willing.
The purpose of all knowledge, metaphysical as well as scientific, is to achieve what Epicurus called ataraxia, freedom from irrational fears and anxieties of all sorts—in brief, peace of mind.
Epicurus Quotes On Happiness, love, and Friendship
It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us.
The things you really need are few and easy to come by, but the things you can imagine you need are infinite, and you will never be satisfied.
You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.
The wealth required by nature is limited and easy to procure, but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.
The noble soul occupies itself with wisdom and friendship.
Vain is the word of that philosopher which does not heal any suffering of man.
Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.
To eat and drink without a friend is to devour like the lion and the wolf.
The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.
Happiness is man’s greatest aim in life. Tranquility and rationality are the cornerstones of happiness.
Never say that I have taken it, only that I have given it back.
Of all the things that wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.
The nobleman is chiefly concerned with wisdom and friendship; of these, the former is a mortal good, the latter an immortal one.
We must, therefore, pursue the things that make for happiness, seeing that when happiness is present, we have everything; but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it.
He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed.
He who least needs tomorrow will most gladly greet tomorrow.
All friendship is desirable in itself, though it starts from the need for help.
We have been born once and there can be no second birth. For all eternity we shall no longer be. But you, although you are not the master of tomorrow, are postponing your happiness.
He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.
I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I knew was far removed from their understanding.
If you wish to make Pythocles rich, do not add to his store of money, but subtract from his desires.
Contented poverty is an honorable estate.
I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.
It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us.
Which of these Epicurus quotes resonated with you the most?
As we reach the end of this exploration into the profound quotes of Epicurus, it’s time to reflect on the wisdom we’ve encountered. Which of these quotes resonated with you the most?
Did Epicurus’ insights on happiness, contentment, or friendship strike a chord within you? Share your favorite Epicurus quotes in the comments below and let us know how they have inspired or impacted your life.
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