Epicurus

Epicurus

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

He was born in Samos in 341bC and his parents were Athenian. The main focus of his philosophy is the person, whose aim must be pleasure, spiritual cultivation, and the avoidance of pain. He praises friendship, and opposes the politics of Aristotle. He was influenced to a great extend by Democritus’ notions. In Samos he was educated by the philosopher Pamfilus. Being an Athenian citizen, Epicurus served in the Athenian army at the age of 18 and after that he was tutored by philosophers like Xenocratis. He spends a decade of poverty in Calofonta, Italy, where he shapes his own philosophy. Upon returning to Athens in 306bC he establishes a philosophical School he names “The Garden School”. His teachings oppose those of Plato and Aristotle. He is considered among the very greatest philosophers of antiquity, and Charles Marx conducted his thesis on Epicurus’ philosophy. He died in Athens in 270bC.

It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.