"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"

This quote by Epicurus advises us to value and be content with what we have in life. Typically, we become so taken in with desiring more and desiring what we don't have, that we forget to be grateful for what we already possess. Epicurus reminds us that what we have now was once something we just wished for. This acts as a reminder to cherish and take advantage of what we have, as it may have been a distant dream at one point. It likewise motivates us to focus on the present and not get captured up in constantly wanting more, as it can result in dissatisfaction and distress.