What are Epicurean views on happiness? Can they guide me towards balance & well-being?

The idea of happiness has evolved over the centuries.

For Homer’s heroes, it was found in glory and everlasting fame.

Socrates and Plato, however, saw true happiness as rooted in virtue and the pursuit of wisdom.

Epicurus developed his own understanding of happiness. His main goal was to free people from fear and show them that true happiness comes from living simply and appreciating life’s small moments.

Epicurean ideas can guide you toward a simpler, calmer, and ultimately happier life.

Epicurus lived in Athens around 300 BCE. Influenced by the ideas of Plato and Aristotle, he went on to develop a school of thought of his own.

Epicurus believed that the greatest obstacles to human happiness were the fear of the gods and the fear of death. He taught that neither should trouble us: the gods are too distant to interfere in human life, and when death comes, we are no longer there to experience it.

So, Epicurus was one of the first in his era to explain what true happiness is. His definition was simple and clear:

Happiness is a pleasure. Pleasure can come from an absence of physical or emotional pain.

He wrote:

The end of all our actions is to be free from pain and fear, and once this is obtained, the tempest of the soul is quelled.

Epicurus believed that pleasures could be divided into:

• Necessary pleasures like food, safety, friendship, and peace of mind. They support true happiness.

• Unnecessary pleasures like luxury or excess. They may feel good for a moment but don't lead to lasting well-being.

For Epicurus, real happiness meant focusing on the simple, necessary pleasures of everyday life.

Modern people are in a constant chase for pleasure. But this chase can become overwhelming, since many pleasures fade quickly and leave us unsatisfied.

To avoid disappointment, focus on necessary pleasures. The real challenge is learning to tell them apart from unnecessary ones.

Positive and behavioral psychologists remind us of the same truth Epicurus taught long ago: happiness comes from friendship and the ability to enjoy life’s simple things — like good food, good company, a walk in nature, laughter, music, or a quiet moment of rest.

Imagine a student who spends hours preparing for a big exam. Afterwards, he takes a quiet walk in a nearby park, shares a meaningful conversation with a close friend, and enjoys a favorite homemade snack.

The enjoyment he experiences from these simple, intentional activities is a good example of a necessary pleasure.

By contrast, when I remember scrolling aimlessly through Instagram, searching for more images and stories, I often feel overwhelmed by the emptiness of the activity.

This is a perfect illustration of an unnecessary pleasure — one that may feel enjoyable in the moment but leaves no lasting satisfaction.

Maya, a young student, invents a “Happiness Jar.”

Every day, she writes down one small thing that made her happy: a funny conversation with her cat, a warm cup of cocoa, or a chat with her best friend.

Her neighbor Tom tries to do the same but only writes down big events — winning a video game, buying a new gadget, or getting likes on social media.

According to Epicurus, whose approach is more likely to lead to lasting happiness, and why?

A. Tom, because big events and rewards are more exciting

B. Maya, because appreciating simple, everyday pleasures builds real happiness

C. Both are equally happy, because any necessary pleasure counts

D. Neither, because happiness only comes from avoiding all desires

Photo by Shaurya Sagar on Unsplash

If you want to try the Epicurean way to seek happiness: