Life Lessons from Epicurus

1. Wisdom leads to pleasure

Marble head of Epicurus, c. second century AD (Wikimedia Commons — image resized by author)

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the golden trio of ancient philosophy, and with good reason. All three were key players in the development of Western ideas. Yet, these great men can often overshadow other brilliant individuals.

Epicurus (341–270 BC) wrote more than 300 works during his lifetime. And whilst the majority of them have been lost, what remains of Epicurus’s philosophy is packed with timeless knowledge.

1. Wisdom leads to pleasure

Epicurus emphasises the importance of pleasure, but not pleasure as we know it today:

‘By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. It is not an unbroken succession of drinking-bouts and of merrymaking … it is sober reasoning … banishing those beliefs through which the greatest disturbances take possession of the soul.’ — Letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus

In other words, wisdom is the key to a good life. It stops us from relying on the gift of good luck and gives us the power to direct our lives using reason. And knowing we have such power…