Thinker × theme

Epicurus quotes on life

2 verified English passages where Epicurus’ thought meets questions of life.

Epicurus on life

Epicurus (341–270 BCE) approaches life within Epicureanism. Pleasure is the beginning and end of the blessed life—chiefly absence of bodily pain and mental disturbance, not endless luxury. Natural and necessary desires are few; empty desires breed anxiety. On this page, the archive isolates English passages where that project meets life most directly—useful for searches such as “epicurus quotes on life.”

How to use this page

Start with the shortest passage, then compare tone across sources. Return to the Epicurus thinker page for biography and to the life theme for other voices on the same question.

Frequently asked

What did Epicurus say about life?

The quotations below are the archive’s curated answer: English renderings selected for clarity and attribution, not a complete corpus.

Where else should I read after epicurus on life?

Related themes: Self , Knowledge , Freedom , Nature , Reason , Wisdom .

  1. Pleasure is the beginning and end of the happy life — not the pleasures of profligates, but freedom from pain in the body and from disturbance in the soul.
  2. It is impossible to live pleasantly without living wisely, finely, and justly.