Epicurus Biography

Epicurus, Philosopher
Occup.Philosopher
FromGreece
Born341 BC
Died271 BC
Early Life and also Education
Epicurus was birthed in February 341 BCE in the ancient city of Samos, an island off the coastline of contemporary Turkey. He was a Greek philosopher that founded the school of thought called Epicureanism. His parents, Neocles and Chaerestrate, were both Athenian-born albeit not well-off, and also belonged to the Athenian settlers on the island. Consequently, Epicurus was raised within an Athenian social scene.

Epicurus started his education and learning in viewpoint at the age of 14 under the tutelage of a disciple of Plato called Pamphilus. He promptly developed an interest in atomist concepts and examined under Democritus' affiliate, Nausiphanes, who presented him to the atomic theory of deep space, which would later on affect his very own thoughtful concepts.

Starting His School
Epicurus moved to Athens around 306 BCE and also began his very own philosophical institution called "The Garden". Unlike various other thoughtful schools of the time, which mainly showed in public rooms, Epicurus chose to educate in a personal setting-- a yard possessed by him. His school was open to both males and females, slaves as well as residents alike, damaging social obstacles and also welcoming inclusivity.

Epicurus' institution concentrated on educating his suggestions relating to the quest of happiness, relationship, and the avoidance of discomfort. According to him, wisdom, justice, and also self-control were the primary merits of a pleased, met life.

Viewpoint and also Teachings
Epicurus' ideology focused on the search of a life identified by enjoyment as well as the absence of discomfort, which he referred to as Ataraxia or peace. Nonetheless, he stressed that enjoyment is not simply grounded in temporary sense satisfaction; rather, it contains psychological health, contentment, and also the lack of emotional chaos.

According to Epicurus, concern of gods and worries of death were the main resources of human suffering. He repetitively worried that fatality itself is absolutely nothing to be feared, as human awareness ceases to exist after death. In terms of faith, he thought that gods existed but had no rate of interest or interactions with human events.

Epicurus' atomist view of deep space likewise added to his ideas. He held that deep space is composed of a large number of atoms relocating arbitrarily with empty space, developing items as well as life types. This deterministic sight of the globe contributed to his dismissal of the idea that divine treatment plays a role in human life.

Among one of the most necessary aspects of Epicurus' philosophy is the significance of relationship. He thought that strong friendships developed the foundation of a satisfied life and also provided a protect versus emotional disturbances.

Remarkable Followers and also Students
Throughout his life, Epicurus drew in numerous followers and also pupils, several of which include:

1. Hermarchus: He was Epicurus' immediate follower and took over the leadership of "The Garden" after Epicurus' death.
2. Metrodorus: A close partner of Epicurus, both in relationship and also approach, he co-founded "The Garden" and also shared Epicurus' ideals.
3. Philodemus: A Greek philosopher from the Epicurean institution, who composed thoroughly about the relevance of psychological cultivation and the evasion of suicidal needs.

Fatality as well as Legacy
Epicurus passed away in 270 BCE after dealing with kidney stones, which triggered him excellent discomfort. However, according to his letters, he found solace in the joy and memories from his partnerships with good friends.

Although Epicureanism at some point discolored after the increase of Christianity, Epicurus' ideas significantly affected later theorists, such as the Roman philosopher Lucretius. The rediscovery of his works throughout the Renaissance contributed to forming modern humanist suitables.

Today, Epicurus' trainings remain to inspire individuals to value simplicity, contentment, and the power of friendship in the pursuit of a satisfied life.

Our collection contains 27 quotes who is written / told by Epicurus, under the main topics: Death - Power - Men.

Related authors: Democritus (Philosopher), Philo (Philosopher), Lucretius (Poet), Alain de Botton (Writer), Francis Wright (Activist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Epicurus Famous Works:
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27 Famous quotes by Epicurus

Small: Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance
"Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance"
Small: The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool
"The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool"
Small: The art of living well and the art of dying well are one
"The art of living well and the art of dying well are one"
Small: The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it
"The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it"
Small: Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempest
"Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempest"
Small: Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss
"Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss"
Small: Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession
"Of all the things which wisdom provides to make us entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship"
Small: Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little
"Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little"
Small: Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason
"Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life"
Small: Justice... is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed
"Justice... is a kind of compact not to harm or be harmed"
Small: It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in
"It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls"
Small: It is not so much our friends help that helps us, as the confidence of their help
"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help"
Small: It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly. And it is impossibl
"It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly. And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life"
Small: It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself
"It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself"
Small: It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and a rich tab
"It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble"
Small: If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires
"If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires"
Small: If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever prayin
"If God listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another"
Small: I would rather be first in a little Iberian village than second in Rome
"I would rather be first in a little Iberian village than second in Rome"
Small: I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn and what I knew was far remove
"I never desired to please the rabble. What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I knew was far removed from their understanding"
Small: I have never wished to cater to the crowd for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I
"I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know"
Small: Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not remember that what you now have was once among
"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"
Small: Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no
"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist"
Small: A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs o
"A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs"
Small: You dont develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving dif
"You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity"
Small: We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need
"We do not so much need the help of our friends as the confidence of their help in need"
Small: There is no such thing as justice in the abstract it is merely a compact between men
"There is no such thing as justice in the abstract; it is merely a compact between men"
Small: The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd
"The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd"