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Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.

Epicurus, Vatican Sayings 35

Philosophy

The story behind the card

This is the first half of the 35th of the Vatican Sayings, 81 short maxims of Epicurus (341–270 BC) and his followers, found in a Vatican Library manuscript and published in 1888. The second half adds: remember that what you have now was once among the things you only hoped for. Epicurus taught in a garden in Athens, open to women and slaves, that a good life comes from friendship, simple needs and freedom from fear, not from always wanting more.

Türkçe oku
Sahip olmadıklarını arzularken sahip olduklarının tadını kaçırma.
Epikuros, Vatikan Özdeyişleri 35

Bu, Vatikan Özdeyişleri'nin 35.'sinin ilk yarısıdır. Epikuros'a (MÖ 341–270) ve öğrencilerine ait 81 kısa sözden oluşan bu derleme, Vatikan Kütüphanesi'ndeki bir elyazmasında bulunmuş ve 1888'de yayımlanmıştır. İkinci yarısı şöyle der: Şu an elinde olanların, bir zamanlar yalnızca umabildiğin şeyler arasında olduğunu unutma. Epikuros, Atina'da kadınlara ve kölelere de açık bir bahçede ders verdi; iyi bir hayatın hep daha fazlasını istemekten değil, dostluktan, sade ihtiyaçlardan ve korkudan kurtulmaktan geldiğini öğretti.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Epicurus
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