Epicurus Quotes on Life
Epicurus made the well-lived life the direct object of philosophy, and the quotes gathered here set out his prescription for it. The goal is a tranquil happiness, reached by limiting desire, for one should not spoil what one has by desiring what one has not, and by valuing what one already possesses. Epicurus prized friendship above almost everything else, calling it the greatest of the means by which wisdom secures happiness across a whole life, and he counselled withdrawal from public ambition in the maxim live in obscurity. He held that the wise person, governed by reason, is largely beyond the reach of chance, and urged that philosophy be taken up at once, since there can be no greater folly than to be always beginning to live. Several popular formulations here are marked as attributed.
Quotes
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Attributed to Epicurus:
“Of all the things which wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life, by far the greatest is the possession of friendship.”
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Attributed to Epicurus:
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for.”
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Attributed to Epicurus:
“Live in obscurity.”
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Attributed to Epicurus:
“Empty is that philosopher's argument by which no human suffering is therapeutically treated.”
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Attributed to Epicurus:
“It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us.”
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“Chance seldom interferes with the wise man; his greatest and highest interests have been, are, and will be, directed by reason throughout his whole life . (16).”
Sovereign Maxims -
“Of all the means which wisdom acquires to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life , by far the most important is friendship . (28)”
Sovereign Maxims -
“Justice respects man as living in society, and is the common bond without which no society can subsist.”
Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers(Half-Hours with the Freethinkers) -
“Since it is every man's interest to be happy through the whole of life, it is the wisdom of every one to employ philosophy in the search of felicity without delay; and there cannot be a greater folly, than to be always beginning to live.”
Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers(Half-Hours with the Freethinkers) -
“Gentleness, as opposed to an irascible temper, greatly contributes to the tranquility and happiness of life, by preserving the mind from perturbation, and arming it against the assaults of calumny and malice.”
Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers(Half-Hours with the Freethinkers)