For what prevents us from saying that the happy life is to have a mind that is free, lofty, fearless and steadfast - a mind that is placed beyond the reach of fear, beyond the reach of desire, that counts virtue the only good, baseness the only evil, and all else but a worthless mass of things, which come and go without increasing or diminishing the highest good, and neither subtract any part from the happy life nor add any part to it? A man thus grounded must, whether he wills or not, necessarily be attended by constant cheerfulness and a joy that is deep and issues from deep within, since he finds delight in his own resources, and desires no joys greater than his inner joys. Seneca
About This Quote

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century B.C. He was born into a wealthy family, but he chose to live an ascetic lifestyle instead of all of the wealth and luxury that came with his family’s position. As an adult, Epicurus lived off of small donations from friends and followers. He believed that money does not bring happiness (luxury leads to pain), and he believed that one should use their own money for themselves (you can’t share your joy). He also believed that life is made up of simple pleasures, which are the benefits of eating, drinking, enjoying sex, friendship, learning, and exercise (the four things that Epicurus focused on).

Source: The Stoic Philosophy Of Seneca: Essays And Letters

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More Quotes By Seneca
  1. Life is like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.
  2. Timendi causa est nescire - Ignorance is the cause of fear.
  3. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
  4. Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
  5. As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
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