Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus
“We must therefore study the means of securing happiness, since if we have it we have everything, but if we lack it we do everything in order to gain it.”
Here, Epicurus seems to indicate that the study of philosophy will lead to happiness. From my limited observation, I am doubtful.
“A life that is happy is better than one that is merely long.” in discussion of death
Epicurus claims that the anticipation of death is painful and that there should be no reason to fear death because there is nothing to fear in death. But his own argument about living happily presents a dilemma. What about the fear of not acquiring happiness or accomplishment before death?
“every pain is an evil, yet not every pain is of a nature to be avoided on all occasions.”
The truest happiness does not come from enjoyment of physical pleasures but from a simple life, freefrom anxiety, with the normal physical needs satisfied.
Panegyric: a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something
Lived as a critique of popular religion