This collection of 40 brief sayings provides a concise and powerful summary of his philosophy, and it remains one of the most important works of ancient Greek philosophy to this day.
The first doctrine states that the gods are not to be feared, as they are not interested in human affairs. Epicurus argues that the gods do not punish or reward us based on our actions, and therefore we should not fear divine retribution. Instead, he suggests that we should focus on living a virtuous life in the present moment, without worrying about what may happen after we die.
The second doctrine states that death is nothing to be feared, as it is simply the cessation of consciousness. Epicurus argues that we should not fear death because it is not something that we will experience. Instead, we should focus on living our lives in the present moment, and we should not be concerned about what may happen after we die.
The third doctrine argues that the wise person is not afraid of pain. Epicurus believes that we should not fear pain, as it is a natural part of life. Instead, we should learn to accept pain and to find pleasure in the midst of it. He suggests that pain can be overcome by focusing on the present moment and by accepting that pain is a natural part of life.
The fourth doctrine states that the limit of pleasure is the removal of pain. Epicurus argues that pleasure is the ultimate goal of life, but he also suggests that pleasure should not be pursued to excess. Instead, we should seek pleasure in moderation, and we should focus on the removal of pain as a way of achieving pleasure.
The fifth doctrine states that we should not be afraid of change. Epicurus believes that change is a natural part of life, and that we should embrace it rather than fearing it. He suggests that change can be a source of pleasure, and that we should learn to find pleasure in the unexpected.
The sixth doctrine states that the virtues of the soul are more valuable than the virtues of the body. Epicurus argues that the virtues of the soul, such as wisdom and courage, are more valuable than physical attributes such as strength or beauty. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, rather than on pursuing physical pleasures.
The seventh doctrine states that we should not be afraid of death, as it is not something to be feared. Epicurus believes that death is a natural part of life, and that we should accept it as such. He suggests that we should focus on living our lives in the present moment, rather than worrying about what may happen after we die.
The eighth doctrine states that we should not be afraid of the gods. Epicurus argues that the gods are not interested in human affairs, and that we should not fear divine retribution. Instead, he suggests that we should focus on living a virtuous life in the present moment, without worrying about what may happen after we die.
The ninth doctrine states that pleasure is the ultimate goal of life. Epicurus believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the ultimate goal of life, but he also suggests that we should pursue pleasure in moderation. He argues that excessive pleasure-seeking can lead to pain and suffering, and that we should seek pleasure in a way that is sustainable and healthy.
The tenth doctrine states that the wise person is self-sufficient. Epicurus argues that the wise person is self-sufficient, and that they do not rely on external sources of happiness. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, rather than relying on external sources of pleasure.
The eleventh doctrine states that the wise person is not superstitious. Epicurus believes that the wise person is not superstitious, and that they do not believe in omens, divination, or other forms of supernatural intervention. Instead, he suggests that we should rely on reason and logic to make decisions, and that we should not be swayed by irrational beliefs.
The twelfth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the fear of the unknown. Epicurus argues that we should not fear the unknown, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on living in the present moment, rather than worrying about what may happen in the future.
The thirteenth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the fear of poverty. Epicurus believes that we should not fear poverty, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, rather than worrying about external sources of wealth.
The fourteenth doctrine states that we should not be afraid to speak our minds. Epicurus argues that we should be free to express our thoughts and opinions, and that we should not fear the opinions of others. He suggests that we should value intellectual freedom, and that we should not be swayed by social pressures or the opinions of authority figures.
The fifteenth doctrine states that the wise person is not affected by flattery or insult. Epicurus believes that we should not be swayed by the opinions of others, whether they are flattering or insulting. He suggests that we should focus on our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of praise or criticism.
The sixteenth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the passage of time. Epicurus argues that we should not fear the passage of time, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on living in the present moment, rather than worrying about what may happen in the future.
The seventeenth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to material possessions. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to material possessions, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of wealth or status.
The eighteenth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by physical pain. Epicurus argues that we should not fear physical pain, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should learn to accept pain and to find pleasure in the midst of it.
The nineteenth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by mental pain. Epicurus believes that we should not fear mental pain, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, in order to overcome mental pain.
The twentieth doctrine states that we should not be swayed by popular opinion. Epicurus argues that we should not be swayed by popular opinion, as it can often be irrational or misguided. He suggests that we should rely on reason and logic to make decisions, and that we should not be swayed by social pressures or the opinions of authority figures.
The twenty-first doctrine states that we should not be afraid of death, as it is not something to be feared. Epicurus believes that death is a natural part of life, and that we should accept it as such. He suggests that we should focus on living our lives in the present moment, rather than worrying about what may happen after we die.
The twenty-second doctrine states that we should not be attached to fame or glory. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to external sources of praise or status, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of recognition or admiration.
The twenty-third doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by social status. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to social status, as it can be a source of anxiety and stress. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of recognition or status.
The twenty-fourth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to power. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to power, as it can be a source of corruption and conflict. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of authority or control.
The twenty-fifth doctrine states that we should not be swayed by the fear of evil. Epicurus believes that we should not fear evil, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, in order to overcome the challenges that life presents us.
The twenty-sixth doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the fear of the gods. Epicurus argues that we should not fear the gods, as they are not interested in human affairs. He suggests that we should focus on living a virtuous life in the present moment, without worrying about divine retribution or intervention.
The twenty-seventh doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the fear of death. Epicurus believes that we should not fear death, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on living our lives in the present moment, rather than worrying about what may happen after we die.
The twenty-eighth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the pleasures of the body. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to physical pleasures, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of pleasure.
The twenty-ninth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the pleasures of the mind. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to mental pleasures, such as fame or status, as they can be a source of anxiety and stress. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of pleasure.
The thirtieth doctrine states that we should not be swayed by the fear of pain. Epicurus argues that we should not fear pain, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should learn to accept pain and to find pleasure in the midst of it.
The thirty-first doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to luxury. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to luxury, as it can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of comfort or pleasure.
The thirty-second doctrine states that the wise person is not disturbed by the fear of poverty. Epicurus argues that we should not fear poverty, as it is a natural part of life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, rather than worrying about external sources of wealth.
The thirty-third doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to sensual pleasures. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to sensual pleasures, such as food or sex, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be distracted by external sources of pleasure.
The thirty-fourth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the pleasures of the ear. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to external sources of pleasure, such as music or entertainment, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, and that we should not be swayed by external sources of pleasure.
The thirty-fifth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the pleasures of the eye. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to external sources of pleasure, such as beauty or art, as they can distract us from more important things in life. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, and that we should not be swayed by external sources of pleasure.
The thirty-sixth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the pleasures of the mind. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to external sources of pleasure, such as fame or status, as they can be a source of anxiety and stress. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, such as our virtues and our friendships, in order to find true happiness and fulfillment.
The thirty-seventh doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to public speaking. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to public speaking, as it can be a source of anxiety and stress. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner resources, and that we should not be swayed by external sources of recognition or admiration.
The thirty-eighth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the opinions of the crowd. Epicurus argues that we should not be swayed by the opinions of others, as they can often be irrational or misguided. He suggests that we should rely on reason and logic to make decisions, and that we should not be swayed by social pressures or the opinions of authority figures.
The thirty-ninth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to authority. Epicurus believes that we should not be attached to external sources of authority, as they can be a source of corruption and conflict. He suggests that we should focus on developing our inner virtues, and that we should not be swayed by external sources of control or power.
The fortieth doctrine states that the wise person is not attached to the future. Epicurus argues that we should not be attached to the future, as it is uncertain and unpredictable. He suggests that we should focus on living in the present moment, and that we should not be swayed by anxiety or fear about what may happen in the future.
In conclusion, Epicurus' "Principal Doctrines" provide a concise and powerful summary of his philosophy, which emphasizes the pursuit of happiness, the acceptance of pain and suffering, and the cultivation of inner virtues and resources. Through his teachings, Epicurus offers a roadmap for living a happy and fulfilling life, one that is free from fear, anxiety, and the distractions of external pleasures and status. His teachings continue
There are several similar or overlapping themes throughout Epicurus' "Principal Doctrines."
However, it is important to note that these doctrines are not simply restatements of the same idea, but rather variations on a common theme that collectively contribute to a comprehensive philosophy of life.
For example, the first and eighth doctrines both emphasize the idea that we should not fear the gods, but the first doctrine specifically states that the gods are not interested in human affairs, while the eighth doctrine elaborates on the nature of the gods and their relationship to human affairs. Similarly, the twelfth and sixteenth doctrines both suggest that we should not fear the unknown or the passage of time, but the twelfth doctrine focuses on the present moment and the value of living in the moment, while the sixteenth doctrine emphasizes the acceptance of the inevitability of time.
Furthermore, some of the similar themes may be presented in different ways or with different nuances, reflecting the complexity of Epicurus' philosophy. For example, the tenth and twenty-ninth doctrines both caution against being swayed by external sources of pleasure, but the tenth doctrine specifically warns against being distracted by bodily pleasures, while the twenty-ninth doctrine warns against being distracted by mental pleasures such as fame or status.
In this sense, the repeated themes and variations on common themes throughout the "Principal Doctrines" reflect the holistic and nuanced nature of Epicurus' philosophy, which aims to provide a comprehensive and practical guide for living a happy and fulfilling life.