Portrait of Epicurus

Epicurus

Epicurean philosophy

Ancient influential 138 sayings

Sayings by Epicurus

The greatest wealth is contentment with a little.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Money & Business Unverifiable

We must release ourselves from the prison of business and politics.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Political Unverifiable

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

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Money & Business Confirmed

The pleasure of the soul is superior to that of the body.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Biblical Unverifiable

The beginning and the root of all good is the pleasure of the stomach; even wisdom and culture must be referred to this.

c. 300 BCE — Quoted by Athenaeus in 'Deipnosophistae', attributed to Epicurus. This is often misunderstood as pro…
Wisdom Unverifiable

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

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Wisdom Confirmed

No pleasure is a bad thing in itself; but the means by which certain pleasures are gained bring troubles many times greater than the pleasures.

c. 300 BCE — Principal Doctrines
Wisdom Unverifiable

The wise man, when he suffers, does not complain, but remedies the pain.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Life & Death Unverifiable

I was never anxious to please the mob, for I have not learned what pleases it.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Educational Unverifiable

The greatest disturbance of the soul is not pain, but the fear of pain.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Biblical Unverifiable

It is better to lie on a humble pallet and be free from care than to own a golden bed and be full of trouble.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Wisdom Unverifiable

The man who says that all things are not possible to him is a fool.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Inspirational Unverifiable

The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.

c. 300 BCE — Principal Doctrines
Wisdom Confirmed

To be happy, we must take care of our bodies and our souls.

c. 300 BCE — Letter to Menoeceus
Biblical Unverifiable

Luxury and gluttony are not the path to pleasure, but moderation and self-sufficiency.

c. 300 BCE — Letter to Menoeceus (summary of his philosophy)
Wisdom Unverifiable

The man who is most blessed is he who has the fewest wants.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Biblical Unverifiable

The greatest good is to be found in the prudent management of the good things of life.

c. 300 BCE — Letter to Menoeceus
Wisdom Unverifiable

We should rather laugh than weep at human life.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Wisdom Unverifiable

The wise man avoids pain, but does not seek pleasure.

c. 300 BCE — This is a common interpretation of Epicureanism, but the nuance is that pleasure is the absence of p…
Wisdom Unverifiable

The greatest power of all is to be able to live with little.

c. 300 BCE — Fragments
Power & Leadership Unverifiable
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