"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"

Epicurus’s assertion reflects a deep independence of mind and a principled detachment from popular opinion. His words reveal a critical stance toward the majority’s values and beliefs, implying that collective approval rarely aligns with his own understanding or pursuit of truth. By stating that he has never wished to cater to the crowd, he signals a refusal to compromise his ideals or beliefs just to gain the favor of the masses. This points to a commitment to authenticity and philosophical integrity, elevating personal discernment over collective validation.

He further acknowledges a fundamental disconnect between his knowledge and the preferences of the crowd. The phrase “what I know they do not approve” suggests that the insights or conclusions he has arrived at, through investigation and reflection, are generally unrecognized or unappreciated by the majority. It underscores the possibility that wisdom or genuine understanding often stands in opposition to commonly held convictions. Conversely, when he says, “what they approve I do not know,” he implies a lack of familiarity or even a deliberate distancing from mainstream values or practices. It suggests that what the majority prizes is either foreign to his way of thinking or lacks genuine merit from his perspective.

Epicurus reinforces the perennial theme in philosophy: the pursuit of truth and virtue must often stand against the tide of public opinion. True wisdom, he intimates, requires an individual to evaluate beliefs independently, unclouded by the desire for external approval. There is also an implicit critique of the crowd’s capacity for discernment, perhaps a suggestion that collective judgments are frequently shallow, misguided, or even harmful. Ultimately, Epicurus elevates a life devoted to reasoned inquiry and personal integrity over one shaped by the changing winds of popularity, reminding individuals to seek understanding for its own sake rather than for the applause it might bring.