Epicurus

I really like Epicurus' quote, "Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little" (62). It is a simple quote but it can be applied in so many instances and be relevant to any topic. Epicurus states very clearly that if a person can't be satisfied with something minor, they won't be satisfied with any amount, great or small.

Unfortunately, this is the case all too often in today's world. We're told by both big businesses and the government that you (the consumer) won't be happy unless you buy more and more things. We're told that the more we buy, the happier we'll be, essentially meaning that money can buy us happiness.

As parents participate in the act of constantly buying things in order to quench their thirst for this illusion of happiness, those actions become habits, and those habits become a way of life. Soon, their way of life is passed on to their children. If children are taught something at a very young age, the chances of them breaking those habits and contradicting everything that they were taught from their parents is highly unlikely.

I also really like Epicurus' quote, "The possession of the greatest riches does not resolve the agitation of the soul, nor give birth to remarkable joy" (64), because I don't believe that expensive and luxurious items will bring me happiness, just as I don't believe that materialistic possessions will mend a broken heart or a sad memory. I think that Epicurus' philosophy is fairly straight forward and simple. He clearly states that the only things one really needs in order to be truly happy are friends, freedom, and thought.