Epicurus

Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.

— Epicurus

The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

Both old and young alike ought to seek wisdom: the former in order that, as age comes over him, he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been, and the latter in order that, while he is young, he may at the same time be old, because he has no fear of the things which are to come.

— Epicurus

Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not come, and, when death is come, we are not.

— Epicurus

Both old and young alike ought to seek wisdom: the former in order that, as age comes over him, he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been, and the latter in order that, while he is young, he may at the same time be old, because he has no fear of the things which are to come.

— Epicurus

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 toward attaining it.

— Epicurus

It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not come, and, when death is come, we are not.

— Epicurus

There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.

— Epicurus

Why should I fear death?

— Epicurus

Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

— 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.

— Epicurus

It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.

— Epicurus

The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.

— Epicurus

If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.

— Epicurus

Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.

— Epicurus

It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.

— Epicurus

Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.

— Epicurus

Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd.

— Epicurus

Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

— Epicurus

Justice... is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed.

— Epicurus

If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another.

— Epicurus

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 toward attaining it.

— Epicurus

I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I knew was far removed from their understanding.

— Epicurus

It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly. And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life.

— Epicurus

Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.

— Epicurus

It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.

— Epicurus

The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.

— Epicurus

If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another.

— Epicurus

We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.

— Epicurus

Both old and young alike ought to seek wisdom: the former in order that, as age comes over him, he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been, and the latter in order that, while he is young, he may at the same time be old, because he has no fear of the things which are to come.

— Epicurus

There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.

— 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.

— Epicurus

It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.

— Epicurus

The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.

— Epicurus

If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.

— Epicurus

Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.

— Epicurus

It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.

— Epicurus

If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another.

— Epicurus

There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.

— Epicurus

Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.

— Epicurus

Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd.

— Epicurus

Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

— 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.

— Epicurus

Justice... is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed.

— Epicurus

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 toward attaining it.

— Epicurus

I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I knew was far removed from their understanding.

— Epicurus

It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly. And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life.

— Epicurus

Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.

— Epicurus

It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.

— Epicurus

The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.

— Epicurus

It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.

— Epicurus

If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another.

— Epicurus

We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need.

— Epicurus

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.

— Epicurus

A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.

— Epicurus

Luxurious food and drinks, in no way protect you from harm. Wealth beyond what is natural, is no more use than an overflowing container. Real value is not generated by theaters, and baths, perfumes or ointments, but by philosophy.

— Epicurus

Don't fear the gods,

— Epicurus

Both old and young alike ought to seek wisdom: the former in order that, as age comes over him, he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been, and the latter in order that, while he is young, he may at the same time be old, because he has no fear of the things which are to come.

— Epicurus

He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing.

— Epicurus

Self-sufficiency is the greatest of all wealth.

— Epicurus

A happy and eternal being has no trouble himself and brings no trouble upon any other being; hence he is exempt from movements of anger and partiality, for every such movement implies weakness. (1)

— Epicurus

No pleasure is in itself evil, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail annoyances many times greater than the pleasures themselves. (8)

— Epicurus

It is impossible for someone to dispel his fears about the most important matters if he doesn't know the nature of the universe but still gives some credence to myths. So without the study of nature there is no enjoyment of pure pleasure. (12)

— Epicurus

The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity. (15)

— Epicurus

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).

— Epicurus

The flesh receives as unlimited the limits of pleasure; and to provide it requires unlimited time. But the mind, intellectually grasping what the end and limit of the flesh is, and banishing the terrors of the future, procures a complete and perfect life, and we have no longer any need of unlimited time. Nevertheless the mind does not shun pleasure, and even when circumstances make death imminent, the mind does not lack enjoyment of the best life. (20)

— Epicurus

We must consider both the ultimate end and all clear sensory evidence, to which we refer our opinions; for otherwise everything will be full of uncertainty and confusion. (22)

— Epicurus

Of all the means which wisdom acquires to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life, by far the most important is friendship. (28)

— Epicurus

Of our desires some are natural and necessary, others are natural but not necessary; and others are neither natural nor necessary, but are due to groundless opinion. (29)

— Epicurus

Natural justice is a symbol or expression of usefulness, to prevent one person from harming or being harmed by another. (31)

— Epicurus

Those animals which are incapable of making binding agreements with one another not to inflict nor suffer harm are without either justice or injustice; and likewise for those peoples who either could not or would not form binding agreements not to inflict nor suffer harm. (32)

— Epicurus

It is impossible for a man who secretly violates the terms of the agreement not to harm or be harmed to feel confident that he will remain undiscovered, even if he has already escaped ten thousand times; for until his death he is never sure that he will not be detected. (35)

— Epicurus

I was not, I was, I am not, I care not. (Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo)

— Epicurus

Where without any change in circumstances the things held to be just by law are seen not to correspond with the concept of justice in actual practice, such laws are not really just; but wherever the laws have ceased to be advantageous because of a change in circumstances, in that case the laws were for that time just when they were advantageous for the mutual dealings of the citizens, and subsequently ceased to be just when they were no longer advantageous. (38)

— Epicurus

Those who were best able to provide themselves with the means of security against their neighbors, being thus in possession of the surest guarantee, passed the most agreeable life in each other's society; and their enjoyment of the fullest intimacy was such that, if one of them died before his time, the survivors did not mourn his death as if it called for sympathy. (40)

— Epicurus