Epicurus, the famous Greek philosopher had a unique take on life. Instead of chasing after wealth or fame, he believed in valuing basic joys and cultivating inner tranquility as the foundation for true happiness. Read some of the best Epicurus quotes, teachings, and sayings to inspire you.
Even today, people around the world find inspiration in his words, turning to his philosophy as a guide for a fulfilled life. His teachings have stood the test of time.
And his thoughts on contentment, simplicity, and personal well-being have made him a notable figure in the realm of philosophical wisdom.
There is a famous Epicurean motto; “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
Delve into these timeless reflections to discover how age-old wisdom can guide modern lives.
Top 10 Epicurus Quotes
- “Contented poverty is an honorable estate.” — Epicurus
- “Being happy is knowing how to be content with little.” — Epicurus
Epicurus quotes - “The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.” — Epicurus
quotes by Epicurus - “Justice… is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed.” — Epicurus
- “Never say that I have taken it, only that I have given it back.” — Epicurus
- “Not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.” — Epicurus
quotes from Epicurus - “There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men.” — Epicurus
- “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.” — 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 time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd.” — Epicurus
Famous Quotes By Epicurus
- “To eat and drink without a friend is to devour like the lion and the wolf.” — Epicurus
- “It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.” — Epicurus
- “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.” — Epicurus
- “A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.” — Epicurus
- “The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure, but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.” — Epicurus
- “Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.” — 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 noble man is chiefly concerned with wisdom and friendship; of these, the former is a mortal good, the latter an immortal one.” — Epicurus
- “You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” — Epicurus
Best Quotes From Epicurus
- “Live in obscurity.” — Epicurus
- “I was not; I was, I am not; I care not.” — Epicurus
- “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” — Epicurus
- “He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.” — Epicurus
- “He who least needs tomorrow will most gladly greet tomorrow.” — Epicurus
- “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.” — Epicurus
- “He who has peace of mind disturbs neither himself nor another.” — Epicurus
- “The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.” — Epicurus
- “Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” — Epicurus
- “The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.” — Epicurus
Epicurus’s Quotes About Life
- “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 does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.” — Epicurus
- “I am grateful to blessed Nature because she made what is necessary easy to acquire and what is hard to acquire unnecessary.” — Epicurus
- “Death, therefore, the most awful of evils, is nothing to us, seeing that, when we are, death is not coming, and, when death is coming, we are not. ” — Epicurus
- “It is not the pretended but the real pursuit of philosophy that is needed, for we do not need the appearance of good health but to enjoy it in truth.” — 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 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
- “Some men spend their whole life furnishing for themselves the things proper to life without realizing that at our birth each of us was poured a mortal brew to drink.” — Epicurus
- “We must, therefore, pursue the things that make for happiness, seeing that when happiness is present, we have everything; but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it.” — Epicurus
- “He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed.” — Epicurus
Quotes Of Epicurus
- “But the universe is infinite.” — Epicurus
- “If you would enjoy real freedom, you must be the slave of Philosophy.” — Epicurus
- “All friendship is desirable in itself, though it starts from the need of help. ” — Epicurus
- “The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance.” — Epicurus
- “Happiness is man’s greatest aim in life. Tranquility and rationality are the cornerstones of happiness.” — Epicurus
- “Don’t fear the Gods, don’t worry about death. What is good is easy to get, and what is terrible is easy to endure.” — 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
- “Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?” — Epicurus
- “Of all the means which wisdom acquires to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life, by far the most important is friendship.” — 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
Epicurus Quotes
- “If a person fights the clear evidence of his senses, he will never be able to share in genuine tranquility.” — Epicurus
- “Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.” — 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
- “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
- “The things you really need are few and easy to come by; but the things you can imagine you need are infinite, and you will never be satisfied.” — Epicurus
- “Therefore, foolish is the man who says that he fears death, not because it will cause pain when it arrives but because anticipation of it is painful.” — 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…” — Epicurus
- “The opinions held by most people about the gods are not true conceptions of them but fallacious notions, according to which awful penalties are meted out to the evil and the greatest of blessings to the good.” — 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
About Epicurus’ Life
Epicurus was born in 341 BCE on the island of Samos and later settled in Athens. Throughout his life, he remained dedicated to exploring and teaching his philosophical ideas.
While he founded a school in his garden in Athens, popularly known as “The Garden” it became a symbol of his teachings about a simple, peaceful life.
His significant works include three letters that provide insights into his thoughts; “Letter to Menoeceus,” “Letter to Pythocles,” and “Letter to Herodotus.”
Additionally, a collection titled “Principal Doctrines” or “Sovran Maxims” contains many of his influential sayings.
Conclusion
Which of these inspirational Epicurus quotes and sayings is your favorite? Do you have any other favorite quote that you want to add to the list? Feel free to share with us in the comment section below.
Feel free to share these uplifting quotes with friends and family on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Pinterest, and more.
