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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
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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.
Epicurus
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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
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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.
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Whatsoever causes no annoyance when it is present, causes only a groundless pain in the expectation. 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. It is nothing, then, either to the living or to the dead, for with the living it is not and the dead exist no longer.
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Among the things held to be just by law, whatever is proved to be of advantage in men's dealings has the stamp of justice, whether or not it be the same for all; but if a man makes a law and it does not prove to be mutually advantageous, then this is no longer just. And if what is mutually advantageous varies and only for a time corresponds to our concept of justice, nevertheless for that time it is just for those who do not trouble themselves about empty words, but look simply at the facts.
Epicurus
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The honor paid to a wise man is a great good for those who honor him.
Epicurus
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The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.
Epicurus
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The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.
Epicurus
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Of all the means which wisdom acquires to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life, by far the most important is friendship.
Epicurus
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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.
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Fortune seldom troubles the wise man. Reason has controlled his greatest and most important affairs, controls them throughout his life, and will continue to control them.
Epicurus
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When we say that pleasure is the end, we do not mean the pleasure of the profligate or that which depends on physical enjoyment--as some think who do not understand our teachings, disagree with them, or give them an evil interpretation--but by pleasure we mean the state wherein the body is free from pain and the mind from anxiety.
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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.
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It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.
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I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I knew was far removed from their understanding.
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For a wrongdoer to be undetected is difficult; and for him to have confidence that his concealment will continue is impossible.
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Let no young man delay the study of philosophy, and let no old man become weary of it; for it is never too early nor too late to care for the well-being of the soul.
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In a philosophical dispute, he gains most who is defeated, since he learns most.
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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.
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There are infinite worlds both like and unlike this world of ours. For the atoms being infinite in number...are borne on far out into space.
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Natural justice is a symbol or expression of usefulness, to prevent one person from harming or being harmed by another.
Epicurus
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As if they were our own handiwork we place a high value on our characters.
Epicurus
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Most men are in a coma when they are at rest and mad when they act.
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Natural wealth is limited and easily obtained; the wealth defined by vain fancies is always beyond reach.
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Quote of the day
You climb to reach the summit, but once there, discover that all roads lead down.
Stanisław Lem
Epicurus
Creative Commons
Born:
341 BC
Died:
269 BC
(aged 72)
Bio:
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher as well as the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Only a few fragments and letters of Epicurus's 300 written works remain.
Known for:
Letter to Menoeceus
The Art of Happiness
Epicurea
The essential Epicurus
Letter on happiness
Most used words:
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life
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man
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time
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justice
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live
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pleasure
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advantageous
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natural
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mind
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unlimited
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mutual
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harm
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impossible
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opinion
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