Greek philosopher Epicurus defined philosophy as ‘ a daily business of speech and thought to secure happiness ’. He believed happiness to be the goal of human life and thought it could be achieved by pursuing pleasure. However, the Epicurean philosophy was then and still is now often erroneously interpreted as promoting hedonism. Rather, Epicurus considered pleasure to be connected to virtue, not excess or sensual self-indulgence.

This volume contains Cyril Bailey’s masterly, classic translations of the most important surviving writings of Epicurus—the Letter to Menoeceus, the Principal Doctrines, and the Vatican Sayings—and offers the contemporary reader a comprehensive overview of Epicurean ethics, his philosophy on what matters in life, and how we should live.