The Fundamental Books of Epicurus: Principal Doctrines, Vatican Sayings, and Letters

by Epicurus, Robert Drew Hicks (Translator), R. Medeiros (Translator)

One of the main philosophers of all time, Epicurus (341–270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy.Epicurus is said to have originally written over 300 works on various subjects, but the vast majority of these writings have been lost. Only three letters written by him—the letters to Menoeceus, Pythocles, and Herodotus—and two collections of quotes—the Principal Doctrines and the Vatican Sayings—have survived intact.This book brings the Principal Doctrines and the letters of Epicurus translated by Robert Drew Hicks (1900) and the version of Vatican Sayings, made by R. Medeiros (2021).

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2021

About the author

Epicurus (Greek: Ἐπίκουρος, Epikouros, "upon youth"; Samos, 341 BCE – Athens, 270 BCE; 72 years) was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism. Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works. Much of what is known about Epicurean philosophy derives from later followers and commentators.

For Epicurus, the purpose of philosophy was to attain the happy, tranquil life, characterized by aponia, the absence of pain and fear, and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends. He taught that pleasure and pain are the measures of what is good and bad, that death is the end of the body and the soul and should therefore not be feared, that the gods do not reward or punish humans, that the universe is infinite and eternal, and that events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space.

His parents, Neocles and Chaerestrate, both Athenian citizens, had immigrated to the Athenian settlement on the Aegean island of Samos about ten years before Epicurus' birth in February 341 BCE. As a boy he studied philosophy for four years under the Platonist teacher Pamphilus. At the age of 18 he went to Athens for his two-year term of military service. The playwright Menander served in the same age-class of the ephebes as Epicurus.

After the death of Alexander the Great, Perdiccas expelled the Athenian settlers on Samos to Colophon. After the completion of his military service, Epicurus joined his family there. He studied under Nausiphanes, who followed the teachings of Democritus. In 311/310 BC Epicurus taught in Mytilene but caused strife and was forced to leave. He then founded a school in Lampsacus before returning to Athens in 306 BC. There he founded The Garden, a school named for the garden he owned about halfway between the Stoa and the Academy that served as the school's meeting place.

Even though many of his teachings were heavily influenced by earlier thinkers, especially by Democritus, he differed in a significant way with Democritus on determinism. Epicurus would often deny this influence, denounce other philosophers as confused, and claim to be "self-taught".

Epicurus never married and had no known children. He suffered from kidney stones, to which he finally succumbed in 270 BCE at the age of 72, and despite the prolonged pain involved, he wrote to Idomeneus:

"I have written this letter to you on a happy day to me, which is also the last day of my life. For I have been attacked by a painful inability to urinate, and also dysentery, so violent that nothing can be added to the violence of my sufferings. But the cheerfulness of my mind, which comes from the recollection of all my philosophical contemplation, counterbalances all these afflictions. And I beg you to take care of the children of Metrodorus, in a manner worthy of the devotion shown by the young man to me, and to philosophy."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurus

Reviews

[Tom Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epicurus reads to me like a variant of mindfulness, arguing for the application of reason to the sentiments populating consciousness, to corral desires so as to gain freedom. His stoicism is often harsh, serve, cold, while also resilient and self-empowering. Some inspiring quotes:

“It’s only my leg you will chain, not eve God can conquer my will.”

“I must die. But must I die bawling I must be put in chains — but moaning and groaning too? I must be exiled; but is there anything to keep me from going with a smile, calm and self-composed?”

“You have only to doze for a moment and all is lost. For ruin and salvation both have their source inside you.”

"Only the educated are free."

“I undertook to conquer myself rather than fortune, and to alter my desires rather than change the order of the world, and to accustom myself to believe that nothing is entirely in our power except our own thoughts…. Here, I think, is the secret of those ancient philosophers who were able to free themselves from the tyranny of fortune, or, despite suffering and poverty, to rival the gods in happiness.”

"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."

"When you are tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity."

“The body sometimes suffers, but relief is never far behind. And if that isn’t good enough for you, the door stands open; otherwise put up with it.”

“I’m sentenced to death.” “What, and the rest of us aren’t?”

“Success is less important than the manner in which it is achieved.”

"Freedom is not achieved by satisfying desire but by eliminating it."

--
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[Alexander Gil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel I may have to re read this book. I was very excited to read this due to what I have heard of Epicurus but this book didn’t speak to me too much.

[Corian defulltimelevensgenieter Koelewijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And often we consider pains superior to pleasures when submission to the pains for a long time brings us as a consequence a greater pleasure” Epcicurus klinkt meer stoïcijns dan hedonistisch

[Laura Frühwirth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is stunning that we are able to look into the head of an ancient greek and how much knowledge is present. The first books are to devour rather slowly, best like a calender. Each paragraph is to be read and thought about fully. Maybe read it and write something afterwards. I might do that as soon as I have something to write handy. It may spark some ideas.

[Peter Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of typing mistakes

I liked reading what Epicurus had to say but was disappointed by the numerous typing mistakes which sometimes made it hard to read. The kindle product seems to me to be shoddy in quality which is why I've given it a low rating.

[William Lay · Rating 2 out of 5]

this translation seems poorly edited and proofread.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epicurus was among the greatest of ancient Greek philosophers. In some areas, e.g. his materialist views of metaphysics, his philosophy was more advanced than some more well-known Greek philosophers. That said, there is much that isn't known about Epicurus (and the major school of philosophy that developed in his name) because most of his writings were lost. The book includes some of the most important works that survived. The "Principal Doctrines" and "Vatican Sayings" are collections of epigrams and brief statements that layout key points of the Epicurean philosophy -- particularly Philosophy of Life. (The two sets of sayings do overlap in places, so there's a bit of redundancy.) The book also includes three letters that deal in varied subjects: e.g. metaphysics, pleasure, and epistemology / approaches to thinking and learning.

I'd highly recommend this book as I believe too little is known about Epicurus and the Epicurean philosophy, and they have much still to teach us.