Hermarchus Quotes
Hermarchus of Mytilene was a Greek philosopher and Epicurus's chosen successor as the second head of the Garden in Athens. The principal philosophical writings attributed to him include treatises against Plato and Aristotle and a long letter on the origin of human laws, in which he argued, against the Cyrenaics and the Sophists, that the prohibition of homicide arose from an immemorial recognition that society could not exist without it. The quotes below are attributed to Hermarchus, organized by topic.
Hermarchus on God
-
Attributed to Hermarchus:
“The fear of the gods and the fear of death are the two storms from which philosophy delivers us.”
Hermarchus on Happiness
-
Attributed to Hermarchus:
“Pleasure is the beginning of the good life and its end.”
-
Attributed to Hermarchus:
“He who has accustomed himself to little has nothing to fear from poverty.”
Hermarchus on Justice
-
Attributed to Hermarchus:
“Justice is no abstract Form; it is the agreement of human beings not to harm each other.”
Hermarchus on Love
-
Attributed to Hermarchus:
“The wise man cultivates friendship as the surest of all securities for life.”