Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 BCE.
He founded the philosophical school of Epicureanism, which emphasized the pursuit of pleasure, tranquility, and the avoidance of pain.
Here are some characteristics of Epicurus’ quotes:
- Pleasure as the ultimate goal: Epicurus believed that the ultimate goal of life was to achieve happiness and pleasure. However, he defined pleasure as the absence of pain, rather than indulgence in sensual or materialistic pleasures. His quotes often focus on finding contentment and tranquility through a simple and moderate lifestyle.
- Importance of friendship: Epicurus valued friendship and considered it crucial for a happy and fulfilling life. His quotes often highlight the significance of cultivating and maintaining genuine friendships based on trust, mutual support, and intellectual stimulation.
- Pursuit of wisdom: Epicurus emphasized the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom as essential for a good life. His quotes often encourage seeking understanding, questioning assumptions, and examining one’s beliefs critically. He believed that understanding the nature of the world and our place in it would lead to a more fulfilled existence.
- Minimalism and simplicity: Epicurus advocated for a simple and frugal way of life. His quotes often promote the idea of detaching oneself from material possessions and desires, finding happiness in the present moment, and avoiding unnecessary luxury or excess.
- Emphasis on self-sufficiency: Epicurus encouraged self-reliance and self-sufficiency. His quotes often emphasize the importance of being content with oneself and not relying on external circumstances or other people for happiness. He believed that true happiness comes from within and can be achieved through self-reflection and personal growth.
- Aversion to fear and superstition: Epicurus sought to liberate individuals from fear and superstition. His quotes often challenge the existence of supernatural beings and the fear of death, promoting rational thinking and a focus on the present life rather than worrying about an afterlife or divine intervention.
Overall, Epicurus’ quotes revolve around the pursuit of a balanced, fulfilling, and tranquil life through moderation, intellectual growth, meaningful relationships, and the avoidance of unnecessary desires and fears.
We have many Epicurus quotes to share in this article.
Let’s have a look 🙂
Epicurus Quotes
Here are some quotes by Epicurus:
- “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.”
- “Of all the things that wisdom provides for living one’s entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.”
- “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
- “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.”
- “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.”
- “The wise man is not disturbed by the want of things which are not necessary for happiness.”
- “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.”
- “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.”
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
- “The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.”
- “The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.”
- “The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.”
- “The key to happiness is freedom, and the key to freedom is courage.”
- “He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.”
- “The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.”
- “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.”
- “He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.”
- “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”
- “It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.”
- “Natural justice is a pledge of reciprocal benefit, to prevent one man from harming or being harmed by another.”
- “The stomach is the slave of the mind.”
- “I was not; I have been; I am not; I do not mind.”
- “Of all the things that wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life, far the greatest is the possession of friendship.”
- “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.”
- “The noble soul occupies itself with wisdom and friendship.”
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
- “Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young, nor weary in the search of it when he has grown old.”
- “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.”
- “The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.”
- “The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.”
- “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.”
- “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.”
- “If you wish to make Pythocles wealthy, do not give him more riches, but subtract his desires.”
- “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.”
- “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.”
- “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.”
- “We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.”
- “We must not pretend to know when we do not know.”
- “In a general way, run your eyes over this, that you may know the purpose of the whole treatise.”
- “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.”
- “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
- “Natural justice is a pledge of reciprocal benefit, to prevent one man from harming or being harmed by another.”
- “The wise man who has become accustomed to necessities knows better how to share with others than how to take from them.”
- “Of all the things which wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life, far the greatest is the possession of friendship.”
- “No pleasure is in itself evil, but the means by which certain pleasures are gained bring pains many times greater than the pleasures.”
- “Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young, nor weary in the search of it when he has grown old.”
- “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.”
- “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”
- “The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.”
- “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.”
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
- “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.”
- “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.”
- “If you wish to make Pythocles wealthy, do not give him more riches, but subtract his desires.”
- “The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.”
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
- “The noble soul occupies itself with wisdom and friendship.”
- “Of all the things which wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life, far the greatest is the possession of friendship.”
- “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.”
These quotes encompass Epicurus’ philosophy and provide insights into his teachings on happiness, friendship, simplicity, and the pursuit of wisdom.
Inspirational Epicurus Quotes
Inspirational Epicurus Quotes:
- “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.”
- “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
- “He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.”
- “We do not exist for the sake of pleasure; rather, pleasure exists for the sake of us.”
- “The key to happiness is freedom from unnecessary desires.”
- “Live in the present moment and make it so beautiful that it’s worth remembering.”
- “Do not fear death, for when we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist.”
- “The wise man neither seeks nor avoids death.”
- “The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.”
- “Of all the things that wisdom provides for the happiness of life, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.”
Short Epicurus Quotes
Short Epicurus Quotes:
- “Not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.”
- “A happy life consists in tranquility of mind.”
- “Death does not concern us because when we exist, death is not yet present, and when death is present, then we do not exist.”
- “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.”
- “He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.”
- “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.”
- “The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd.”
- “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day.”
- “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”
- “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.”
Funny Epicurus Quotes
Funny Epicurus Quotes:
- “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
- “A free life cannot acquire many possessions because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.”
- “The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears.”
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
- “We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed towards attaining it.”
- “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.”
- “Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.”
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
- “It is better to incur a slight risk to avoid a great danger.”
- “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.”
Famous Epicurus Quotes
Famous Epicurus Quotes:
- “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.”
- “Death does not concern us because when we exist, death is not yet present, and when death is present, then we do not exist.”
- “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
- “Not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.”
- “The key to happiness is freedom from unnecessary desires.”
- “A free life cannot acquire many possessions because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.”
- “He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.”
- “The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.”
- “The wise man neither seeks nor avoids death.”
- “Of all the things that wisdom provides for the happiness of life, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.”
Deep Epicurus Quotes
Deep Epicurus Quotes:
- “Death, the most dreaded of evils, is nothing to us, since when we exist, death is not present, and when death is present, we do not exist.”
- “The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.”
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.”
- “We must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed towards attaining it.”
- “It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly.”
- “The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd.”
- “The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.”
- “He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.”
- “The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears.”
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
What Is Epicureanism?
Epicureanism is a philosophical school of thought founded by the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE).
Epicureanism emphasizes the pursuit of happiness and the avoidance of pain as the ultimate goals in life.
It promotes a philosophy of tranquility, pleasure, and a simple, self-sufficient life.
The central teachings of Epicureanism include:
- Pleasure as the highest good: Epicurus believed that pleasure was the ultimate aim of human life. However, he defined pleasure not as indulgence in immediate gratification but as the absence of pain and tranquility of the mind. Pleasure, for Epicurus, was achieved through moderation and the satisfaction of natural and necessary desires.
- Atonaraxia (tranquility): Epicurus emphasized the pursuit of inner peace and freedom from anxiety. He believed that by eliminating unnecessary desires and fears, one could achieve a state of tranquility (atonaraxia) and mental well-being.
- Materialism: Epicureanism is rooted in a materialistic worldview. Epicurus argued that everything in the universe is made up of atoms, including the soul, which is composed of fine, ethereal atoms. He rejected the existence of supernatural entities and the concept of an afterlife, focusing instead on the present life and maximizing happiness in the here and now.
- Self-sufficiency and simplicity: Epicurus advocated for a simple and self-sufficient lifestyle. He believed that the pursuit of wealth, fame, or social status often led to unnecessary desires and anxieties. Instead, he encouraged individuals to seek moderate pleasures, such as friendship, intellectual pursuits, and the enjoyment of simple pleasures like food and drink.
- Importance of friendship: Epicurus considered friendship to be an essential component of a happy life. He believed that genuine friendships provided support, companionship, and the opportunity for intellectual discussions, fostering a sense of community and enhancing personal well-being.
Overall, Epicureanism promotes a philosophy of moderation, self-restraint, and the cultivation of a calm and balanced life.
It encourages individuals to seek happiness through the pursuit of genuine pleasures and the avoidance of unnecessary desires and anxieties.
Conclusion
Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher and founder of Epicureanism, left behind a wealth of wisdom in his quotes.
His philosophy centered around the pursuit of happiness, tranquility, and the avoidance of unnecessary desires and fears.
Epicurus believed that true pleasure came from the absence of pain and that friendship played a vital role in a fulfilling life.
He advocated for simplicity, self-sufficiency, and the pursuit of wisdom as essential components of a good life.
Epicurus’ quotes reflect his emphasis on moderation, contentment, and the cultivation of meaningful relationships.
He encouraged individuals to find joy in what they have and to avoid the constant desire for more.
His thoughts on the insignificance of death and the importance of living in the present moment highlight his focus on finding peace and tranquility in the face of uncertainty.
Furthermore, Epicurus challenged traditional beliefs and superstitions, promoting rational thinking and a reliance on personal experience and observation.
He encouraged individuals to question assumptions, seek knowledge, and develop a deep understanding of the world.
Overall, Epicurus’ quotes continue to resonate with individuals seeking a balanced and fulfilled life.
They serve as a reminder to prioritize genuine friendships, live modestly, seek wisdom, and find contentment in the present.
Through his timeless wisdom, Epicurus offers valuable insights that can inspire us to live with greater purpose, happiness, and inner peace.
