--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who says either that the time for…" description: "\"He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg" --- # He who says either that the time for philosophy has not… ![“He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed.” quote by Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg) > “He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed.” [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy and happiness are always relevant; claiming they’re past or future is mistaken. **In simple terms:** Philosophy and happiness are always timely. Key Takeaway Embrace philosophy now for lasting happiness. Themes philosophy happiness timeliness existential Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - life planning - mental health Key Concepts ethics eudaimonia Questions to Reflect On - What philosophical practice could improve your happiness? - How does timing affect your pursuit of joy? A Different Perspective Philosophy alone doesn’t guarantee happiness without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-come-831519/) [Says Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-time-432343/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-happiness-720453/) [Time Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-philosophy-601041/) ## Related quotes > [When you design a building, you start from a general philosophy, and you come down, and you start from detail and come up. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-piano/when-you-design-a-building-you-start-from-a-general-philosophy-and/) [Renzo Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-piano/) > [Whatever happens, every individual is a child of his time; so philosophy too is its own time apprehended in thoughts. It is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/whatever-happens-every-individual-is-a-child-of-his-time-so/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“This, over time, has become my philosophy of living. Pay attention to the good stuff that happens every day and enjoy what is, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-lipsenthal/this-over-time-has-become-my-philosophy-of-living-pay-attention-to/) [Lee Lipsenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-lipsenthal/) > [“Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only those are really alive. For they not only keep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/of-all-people-only-those-are-at-leisure-who-make-time-for-philosophy/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [We've said it since the beginning of time: The philosophy of The New Day has always been to lift your brother up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/we-ve-said-it-since-the-beginning-of-time-the-philosophy-of-the-new/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [“Of all men, only those who find time for philosophy are at leisure; only they are truly alive; for it is not only their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/of-all-men-only-those-who-find-time-for-philosophy-are-at-leisure/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [To have no time for philosophy is to be a true philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/to-have-no-time-for-philosophy-is-to-be-a-true-philosopher/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-will-be-no-end-to-the-troubles-of-states-or-of-humanity-itself-2/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is easier taking the beaten path than making our way over bogs and precipices. The great difficulty in philosophy is to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/it-is-easier-taking-the-beaten-path-than-making-our-way-over-bogs-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-society-we-have-described-can-never-grow-into-a-reality-or-see/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [God is a synergetic experience. Science can never reveal it, philosophy can never come to it - only a poetic approach, a very passive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/god-is-a-synergetic-experience-science-can-never-reveal-it-philosophy/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Hello again! As you see, this short course in philosophy will come in handy-sized portions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/hello-again-as-you-see-this-short-course-in-philosophy-will-come-in/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [The minister and the priest teach that the organization is greater. No great philosophy has ever come from an organization, but from an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/the-minister-and-the-priest-teach-that-the-organization-is-greater-no/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [“It won't always feel like this," she says. "Time heals all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henry/it-won-t-always-feel-like-this-she-says-time-heals-all/) [Emily Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henry/) > [Celebs says we have no time for love, but I wouldn't say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/celebs-says-we-have-no-time-for-love-but-i-wouldn-t-say-that/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) ## More by Epicurus > [Most beautiful is the sight of those near and dear to us when our original kinship makes us of one mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/most-beautiful-is-the-sight-of-those-near-and-dear-to-us-when-our/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Any man who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/any-man-who-does-not-think-that-what-he-has-is-more-than-ample-is-an/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“The opinions held by most people about the gods are not true conceptions of them but fallacious notions, according to which awful penalties are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-opinions-held-by-most-people-about-the-gods-are-not-true/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death is nothing to us: for that which is dissolved is without sensation; and that which lacks sensation is nothing to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-is-nothing-to-us-for-that-which-is-dissolved-is-without/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Neither one should hesitate about dedicating oneself to philosophy when young, nor should get tired of doing it when one's old, because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/neither-one-should-hesitate-about-dedicating-oneself-to-philosophy/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-thou-wilt-make-a-man-happy-add-not-unto-his-riches-but-take-away/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Being happy is knowing how to be content with little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/being-happy-is-knowing-how-to-be-content-with-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/riches-do-not-exhilarate-us-so-much-with-their-possession-as-they/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/i-have-never-wished-to-cater-to-the-crowd-for-what-i-know-they-do-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The pleasant life is not produced by continual drinking and dancing, nor sexual intercourse, nor rare dishes of sea food and other delicacies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-pleasant-life-is-not-produced-by-continual-drinking-and-dancing/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [If the gods have the will to remove evil and cannot, then they are not all-powerful. If they are neither able nor willing, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/if-the-gods-have-the-will-to-remove-evil-and-cannot-then-they-are-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/of-all-things-which-wisdom-provides-to-make-life-entirely-happy-much/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/death-does-not-concern-us-because-as-long-as-we-exist-death-is-not/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) [Explore all 209 Epicurus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) ## More Clock quotes > [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/) [Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/) > [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/) [Levi Keely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-keely/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who says that the time for happiness has not yet come or that it has passed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epicurus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-philosophy-has-not-yet-come-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clock" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-philosophy-has-not-yet-come-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/epicurus-1642_clock_he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-phi_2867955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who says either that the time for philosophy has not yet come or that it has passed is like someone who…” — Epicurus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Epicurus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who says either that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-philosophy-has-not-yet-come-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/he-who-says-either-that-the-time-for-philosophy-has-not-yet-come-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```