"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist"

Epicurus invites reflection on the nature of death and the fears that often surround it. The essence of his statement lies in the distinction between experience and non-existence. For Epicurus, the fear of death is irrational because death is the absence of sensation and consciousness. As long as a living being is alive, death is merely a concept, a future possibility, never an immediate reality. The moment death arrives, there is no longer an individual present to experience it; the possibility of suffering or fearing is eradicated, as there is simply nothing, no "me", left.

Epicurus sees life and death as mutually exclusive states. One can only experience being alive; death is not an experience but rather the permanent end of all experience. He thus encourages thinking about death not as an event within life, but as the utter cessation of all that constitutes being, a realm where fear and concern are meaningless, because they require a subject who perceives. This perspective underlies his philosophy of freeing oneself from unnecessary fears and anxieties, allowing individuals to better appreciate the present and to cultivate tranquility.

The existential implications are profound. Human beings often preoccupy themselves with the thought of death, letting the fear of the unknown rob them of peace. From Epicurus’s point of view, such worry is fruitless. There is no pain or awareness in death for the individual, because consciousness has ended. Therefore, death should not trouble us while we are alive; it is never present with us, and when it comes, we are gone. By accepting this, one can attain equanimity and focus on living fully rather than dwelling on something that, by its very nature, can never be part of our lived experience.