Epicurus Quote by Yaakov Malkin
““Epicurus was a philosopher who asserted a deistic worldview, i.e. one in which the gods are wholly separate from the universe and human affairs. This approach denied divine involvement in the creation of the world or administration of nature and its laws, and freed man from the obligation to make offerings, pray to the gods, or observe the precepts devised by religious leaders.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Freedom, Yaakov Malkin, 1995
Epicurus argued that gods exist but do not intervene in human affairs, freeing people from religious obligations.
In simple terms: Gods are distant, so we need not obey rituals.
Key Takeaway
Live without fearing divine judgment.
Themes
freedom
secularism
autonomy
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- ethical reasoning
- public policy
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
deism
atheism
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel liberated or unsettled by a non‑interventionist view of the divine?
- How does this perspective affect your moral choices?
A Different Perspective
Some may view this as dismissing moral guidance traditionally provided by religion.
![“As you say of yourself, I too am an Epicurean . I consider the genuine (not the imputed) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us. [ Letter to William Short, 31 October 1819 ]” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af0/thomas-jefferson-43_epicurean_as-you-say-of-yourself-i-too-am-an-epicu_1448972.jpg)
