Epicurus was a philosopher who lived in ancient Greece over 2000 years ago (circa 300BCE). His ideas about how to live a good life were based on his understanding of the universe, and the whole system came to be known as Epicureanism (and those who followed it Epicureans).

In 1888 a scholar entered the Vatican Apostolic Library — one of the world’s oldest libraries — and opened an ancient 14th century manuscript. (I imagine this like the beginning of some Hollywood mystery movie.)

Therein he found copies of old philosophical texts including the Echiridion of Epictetus, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — and a previously unknown text entitled “The Sayings of Epicurus.”

The list of sayings was collected or copied by an unknown author but is generally attributed to Epicurus of Samos, the founder of ancient Epicureanism.

The Principle Doctrines (Κyriai Doxai in Greek) are found in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius.

Norman Dewitt’s work “Epicurus and His Philosophy” is a great starting point for all serious study of Epicureanism. Chapter One “A Synoptic View” is available as a free preview. It is a 33-page summary of the whole, and is a great primer and worth reading on its own merits.

This is a letter from Epicurus himself, preserved in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius. In it Epicurus lays out a summary of ancient epicurean beliefs. This translation by R. D. Hicks is in the public domain.

A 1947 article by Norman DeWitt, author of Epicurus: His Philosophy (read a preview here, which is a short summary of the main topics in the preview.

Epicurus outlined his proof regarding the fundamental nature of the universe quoted from the Letter to Herodotus, by Epicurus himself, preserved in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Laertius Diogenes.

This charming novel – called by Thomas Jefferson “a treat of the highest order” – follows a young philosopher as experiences the great philosophies of Athens.

We believe Norman Dewitt’s work “Epicurus and His Philosophy” is the best starting point for all serious study of Epicureanism.

“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.”

“Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy, though he be master of the whole world.”

“When we say that pleasure is the goal, we do not mean the pleasure of debauchery or sensuality, despite whatever the ignorant, disagreeable, or malignant people believe. By pleasure, we mean this: freedom from pain in the body and freedom from turmoil in the soul.”

“We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”

“Let us completely banish our evil habits as if they were evil men who have done us long and grievous harm.”

“Sober reasoning is required, which decides every choice and avoidance and liberates us from the false beliefs which are the greatest source of anxiety.”

“We must laugh and philosophize and manage our households and look after our other affairs all at the same time.”

“our philosopher has abundance of witnesses to attest his unsurpassed goodwill to all men – his native land, which honoured him with statues in bronze; his friends, so many in number that they could hardly be counted by whole cities … the School itself which, while nearly all the others have died out, continues for ever without interruption through numberless reigns of one scholarch after another; his gratitude to his parents, his generosity to his brothers, his gentleness to his servants … and in general, his benevolence to all mankind.”

“Of all the things which wisdom acquires to produce the blessedness of the complete life, by far the greatest is the possession of friendship” — Epicurus

“We must remember that the future is neither wholly ours nor wholly not ours, so that neither must we count upon it as quite certain to come nor despair of it as quite certain not to come.”