Epicurus quotes

Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher, was a pioneer in the field of hedonism and the founder of Epicureanism. With his profound teachings focused on attaining inner tranquility and pleasure, Epicurus emphasized the pursuit of happiness as life's ultimate goal. His philosophy advocated for simple living, friendship, and the avoidance of pain. Today, his principles remain relevant as people seek balance and contentment in their lives. Explore Epicurus' timeless wisdom and discover how his teachings can lead to a more fulfilling existence. Let Epicurus be your guide to unlocking the secrets of true happiness and living a life well lived.

The most important consequence of self-sufficiency is freedom.

- Epicurus

Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.

- Epicurus

War is delightful to those who have not experienced it.

- Epicurus

The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.

- Epicurus

You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.

- Epicurus

To eat and drink without a friend is to devour like the lion and the wolf.

- Epicurus

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

- Epicurus

The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.

- Epicurus

Let no one delay the study of philosophy while young nor weary of it when old.

- Epicurus

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?

- Epicurus

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.

- Epicurus

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

- Epicurus

He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.

- Epicurus

Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.

- 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

By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul.

- Epicurus

Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.

- Epicurus

We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.

- Epicurus

I would rather be first in a little Iberian village than second in Rome.

- 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

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

- 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

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

- 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

You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.

- Epicurus

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.

- Epicurus

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

- Epicurus