True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
EP EpicurusPhilosopher · 341–270 BCEWhat this quote means
Chasing what is missing can blind you to what you already hold — much of which you once longed for. Naming today’s quiet gifts is its own contentment.
Context
Greek philosopher who taught that a happy life grows from simple pleasures, steady friendship, and freedom from fear.
This line is among the quotes by Epicurus that readers return to on gratitude — a small, portable reminder to carry into the morning.
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Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.