Although Epicurus was less of a thrill-seeker than his hedonism implies. For Epicurus the best human condition was a state which he called ataraxia, meaning tranquility.
There are those, of course, who would adopt the Epicurean motto of " Eat, drink, and be merry, " but most people would be chastened by the certainty of impending death.
" No, my dear, no, I can't, " the amiable Epicurean replied, while a smile of welcome played about his rosy cheeks, showing a glimpse of shiny teeth, half hidden by his silky moustache.
In the matter of cooking ducks, I am in violent opposition to the pretendedly Epicurean school of raw bloody duck whisked through a duck press. The advice to " run your duck through a very hot oven" leaves me shuddering.
Epicurus summed up his liberating philosophy with what he called the four medicinal herbs: The gods are not to be feared. Death is nothing to worry about. Good is easy to attain. The fearful is easy to endure.