Stop worrying about death. Seriously. That sounds like a tall order, especially when you're staring at a mounting pile of bills or scrolling through a depressing news cycle, but it’s basically the core pitch of the Letter to Menoeceus. This isn’t some dusty, academic scroll meant for people in togas. It’s a survival manual. Written by Epicurus around the 3rd century BCE, it’s one of the few surviving pieces of his work that actually explains how to be happy without being a shallow hedonist.
You’ve probably heard the word "Epicurean" and thought of fancy wine or expensive steaks. That’s a total misunderstanding. In the Letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus actually argues for the opposite. He’s into plain bread, water, and the absence of pain. He writes to his friend Menoeceus because he’s tired of people being terrified of the gods and the afterlife. He wants to strip away the anxiety that keeps us from actually enjoying a Tuesday afternoon.
The Epicurean Cure for Existential Dread
Epicurus starts off with a bang. He tells Menoeceus that it’s never too early or too late to study philosophy because you’re never too young or too old to be happy. It's a simple premise. But then he hits the heavy stuff: death.
Most of us spend a non-zero amount of time low-key panicking about the end. Epicurus thinks that’s a waste. His logic is famous and honestly pretty comforting. He says, "Death is nothing to us." When we are here, death is not. When death is here, we are not. There’s no crossover. You won't be there to experience being dead, so why sweat it? This isn't just a clever wordplay; it's an attempt to remove the "fear of the infinite" that ruins the finite time we actually have.
If you aren't scared of being dead, you can finally focus on living.
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What the Letter to Menoeceus says about Pleasure
This is where things get messy for modern readers. We hear "pleasure" and think of a Vegas weekend. Epicurus defines pleasure as aponia (the absence of physical pain) and ataraxia (the absence of mental disturbance). Basically, he’s looking for a "neutral gear" where nothing hurts and your mind isn't a chaotic mess.
In the Letter to Menoeceus, he's clear: "When we say that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality." He’s talking about sober reasoning. He wants you to look at every desire and ask, "What will happen to me if this desire is fulfilled, and what if it is not?" If getting that new iPhone is going to cause you more stress in credit card debt than the joy the camera brings, Epicurus would tell you to skip it.
He’s the original minimalist. He’s telling Menoeceus that being used to simple, inexpensive things makes us healthy and more resilient. If you can be happy with a piece of cheese and a good conversation, you’re basically invincible. Life can’t take much away from you if you don't require much to begin with.
Why We Get Epicurus So Wrong
People have been slandering this guy for two thousand years. The Stoics hated him because they thought he was too soft. The early Christians hated him because he didn't think the gods cared about human affairs. Even today, we use his name to describe foodies.
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But if you actually read the Letter to Menoeceus, you see a guy who is obsessed with ethics. He says you can't live pleasantly without living prudently, honorably, and justly. It’s a package deal. You can't be a jerk and be happy because the guilt and the fear of getting caught will ruin your ataraxia.
He also tackles the "God" problem. He doesn't say gods don't exist—that would have been a death sentence in ancient Athens. Instead, he says they are "immortal and blessed" and therefore don't bother themselves with rewarding or punishing puny humans. They're off living their best lives. This was a radical move. It took the power of "fate" or "divine wrath" out of the equation. You are the pilot. That’s empowering, but also a little scary.
The Math of Desires
He breaks down our wants into three buckets.
- Natural and necessary (Food, water, shelter, friendship).
- Natural but unnecessary (Fancy food, a bigger house).
- Vain and empty (Fame, power, statues of yourself).
The Letter to Menoeceus suggests that 90% of our stress comes from chasing the third bucket. You don't need a million followers to have a good life. You need a few good friends and a belly that isn't growling. Honestly, in the age of Instagram, this feels more relevant than ever. We spend our lives chasing "vain" desires and then wonder why we have a knot in our stomach.
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Practical Steps for an Epicurean Life
If you want to actually use the advice in the Letter to Menoeceus, you don't need to join a commune (though Epicurus did have a "Garden" where his followers lived). You just need to audit your anxieties.
Start by looking at your "necessary" needs. Most of us in the modern West have the basics covered, yet we feel like we’re drowning. Epicurus would tell you to prune your desires like a dying hedge. If a desire is hard to satisfy or causes pain if left unfulfilled, it might be a "vain" desire.
Next steps for applying the Letter to Menoeceus today:
- Perform a Desire Audit: Take a look at your last five "big" purchases or goals. Ask yourself if they were natural and necessary or just "vain" pursuits for status.
- Practice Mental Distancing from Death: When the "big dark" thoughts creep in, remind yourself of the Epicurean symmetry argument: you weren't bothered by the billions of years before you were born, so why would the billions of years after you’re gone be any different?
- Prioritize Friendship: Epicurus believed friendship was the greatest tool for a happy life. It provides security and joy. Instead of networking for "status," spend that hour having a real conversation with a friend.
- Simplify Your Palate: Try to find genuine enjoyment in basic things. It’s a form of training. If you can enjoy a simple meal, you’ve secured your happiness against economic downturns or bad luck.
- Stop Chasing Fate: Stop worrying about what’s "meant to be" or what the universe is trying to tell you. Focus on the choices you have right now.
The Letter to Menoeceus isn't about being lazy. It's about being free. It’s about realizing that most of the things that keep us up at night are ghosts. Once you stop being afraid of the gods and death, and you stop wanting things you don't need, you’re left with a very quiet, very peaceful kind of joy. That’s the goal. Not a wild party, but a calm mind.