On the topic of happiness, here’s what second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

… for what is now the most powerful economy in the world had to say about it.

What a beautiful sentiment, however imperfectly realized. That a nation is founded on the principle of its people being safe and free to pursue happiness for themselves, families, and friends.

The man who wrote that was American founder and former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

From Jefferson’s letter to William Short:

“As you say of yourself, I TOO AM AN EPICUREAN. I consider the genuine doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us. Epictetus, indeed, has given us what was good of the Stoics.”
— Thomas Jefferson

These 2 philosophers came up with different ideas on how to achieve happiness in this life. Both have been influential on my thinking and, yes, attitude.

If you’re open to new or even Classical ideas you can use yourself or share with others who need them on how to “Live the good life”, then I invite you to watch these 2 mega-condensed concise summaries ears wide open and pen in hand.

First up, Epicurus:

Next Epictetus:

These are the 2-guiding philosophies of my life: Epicureanism, which I just recently became familiar with enough to say I understand it, and Stoicism as promoted by Epictetus.

I have been thinking a lot my philosophy as of late.

I’ve been studying the Stoics: Former slave Epictetus and the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Marcus Aurelius, especially… and even Entrepreneur Timothy Ferriss and Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam war-era prisoner of war Admiral James Stockdale.

I feel fortunate for their work and example.

“All religions must be tolerated… for every man must get to heaven in his own way.”
— Epictetus

Yet reading about them, for example, Epictetus, I don’t always agree: I think we very often can improve our status, our station in the world, in various ways and improve our character at the same time.

I think one of the ways to become wealthy is to be creative, work hard, and provide things and services of value to people.

Likewise, we can improve our bodies through exercise, and this will improve the quality of our minds… and our abilities in pretty much every area.

Even in relationships, a person can learn to be much better at it. Say to talk about things of interest to the opposite sex, and leave the particle physics until after they’ve gone to bed and one can re-fire up the old PC.

Ha ha. And et cetera.

So in large measure, I agree with what I’ve learned of Epicurus, and at the same time I think the Stoics have one heck of a good point about not worrying about things beyond our control. In the end, I’m also a materialist where the life after death question is concerned.

So now I’m going to integrate Epicurus into my philosophy, which, truth be told I was already without understanding his work. But I am going to do it on a sounder footing and have elements of both Stoicism and Epicureanism in my life combined with my own thoughts and observations.

I also thank the man who made these videos, a professor, for explaining so concisely how Epicurus divided up short and long term pleasure, physical and mental pleasures, etc.

Now…

Watch both videos. What do you think?

…

I think “both.”