The foolβs life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.
EpicurusRead
The greater the Difficulty the more Glory in surmounting it, and the loss of false Joys secures to us a much better Possession of real ones.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Overcoming challenges leads to true fulfillment, while giving up illusions allows us to attain genuine happiness.
Epicurus emphasizes that the challenges we face in life, while difficult, offer us the greatest sense of accomplishment when we overcome them. Additionally, letting go of superficial pleasures or false joys permits us a deeper appreciation for the genuine joys and possessions that truly enrich our lives.
Themes
ChallengeGloryOvercomingHappinessJoyDifficulty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to uplift those facing hardships.
More from Epicurus
All quotes βAccustom yourself to believe that death is nothing to us, for good and evil imply awareness, and death is the privation of all awareness; therefore a right understanding that death is nothing to us makes the mortality of life enjoyable, not by adding to life an unlimited time, but by taking away the yearning after immortality. For life has no terror; for those who thoroughly apprehend that there are no terrors for them in ceasing to live.
EpicurusRead
The wise man who has become accustomed to necessities knows better how to share with others than how to take from them, so great a treasure of self-sufficiency has he found.
EpicurusRead
We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.
EpicurusRead
I was not, I was, I am not, I care not. (Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo)
EpicurusRead
Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.
EpicurusRead
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