Quotations and Literature Forum

I am looking for the author of the following quote+ the philosofical movement he belonged to.
Death does not concern us, for when we are here death is not. and when death is here, we are no more

Thanks a lot in advance
Peter

Funny, I was just working on organizing quotes by topic and remembered seeing that one go by.


I don't know which movement Epicurus is considered to belong to, but you'll undoubtedly find that fact buried somewhere in this excellent page:

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/e/epicur.htm

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Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

Epicurus adopted Democritus' atomism and established the Garden, the Epicurean school. He was a prolific writer and his most important work was On Nature. Epicureanism was anathema to Christianity. It denied a provident God, affirmed the value of life and the values of this world, denied immortality, and advocated an account of the universe wholly at variance with the Christian. These views became the basis of modern science in the 17th century.

Slight clarification -- Phaedrus, you are, of course, essentially correct about the contrast of spiritual values, but the way the post reads may lead one to think Epicureanism was a reaction to Christianity, as in a position of rivalry, when in fact Epicureanism occurred several hundred years before the birth of Christ, and was more of a philosophy than a religion. "Anathema" might be a bit of an overstatement as well. "Antithesis" may be a better characterization, as the world-centered values of Epicureanism do contrast with Christian views of the afterlife.

Despite their contrast, both the Epicurean and Christian philosophies sought to resolve the same spiritual pain: life in the this world is most often full of suffering and sorrow. Epicureans believed that because of this, seeking as much physical pleasure and happiness was the highest good. Later, Christians dealt with the same problem by seeking solace and peace from strife in the afterlife.

The word apikorus in Hebrew and Yiddish means "heretic." It obviously derives from the name of the philosopher.

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Mr. Fussbudget

True wit is nature to advantage dressed,
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.