Epicurus - Vatican Sayings Vatican Sayings Epicurus et al. Diseases of long duration allow an excess of bodily pleasure over pain. It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and honorably and justly, and it is impossible to live wisely and honorably and justly without living pleasantly. Whenever any one of these is lacking, when, for instance, the man is not able to live wisely, though he lives honorably and justly, it is impossible for him to live a pleasant life.
Most men are insensible when they rest, and mad when they act.
The just man is most free from disturbance, while the unjust is full of the utmost disturbance. And if what is mutually advantageous varies and only for a time corresponds to our concept of justice, nevertheless for that time it is just for those who do not trouble themselves about empty words, but look simply at the facts. But you, although you are not in control of tomorrow, are postponing your happiness. Life is wasted by delaying, and each one of us dies without enjoying leisure. We place a high value on our characters as if they were our own possessions whether or not we are virtuous and praised by other men.