Epicurean Contentment

The deepest Epicurean insight is that happiness needs subtraction more than addition. Most unhappiness comes not from lacking good things but from wanting things you do not need. Remove the unnecessary desires and satisfaction arrives on its own.

Epicurus sorted desires into three kinds. Natural and necessary desires — food, shelter, companionship — should be satisfied. Natural but unnecessary desires — rich food, a large house — can be enjoyed but not chased. Unnatural desires — fame, power, endless wealth — should be dropped entirely, because they can never be fully satisfied.