How Epicurus Redefined Wealth: Want Less, Live Richer

Quote Analysis

In a world driven by constant consumption and the race for more, Epicurus offers a radically different definition of wealth.

“If you wish to be rich, do not add to your money but subtract from your desires.”

This ancient insight challenges our modern assumptions about prosperity, happiness, and what it truly means to live well. But how can fewer desires make us richer? And is this idea still relevant in an age of abundance? Let’s explore the core of Epicurean wisdom—and what it reveals about inner freedom, simplicity, and the pursuit of lasting joy.

Who Was Epicurus and Why Is His View on Wealth Unique?

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 BCE and founded a school of thought known as Epicureanism. Unlike popular belief, Epicurus was not a promoter of wild indulgence or luxury. His teachings centered around something far more subtle and profound: the pursuit of a simple, tranquil, and self-sufficient life.

In his philosophy, pleasure was indeed the highest good—but not in the way most people imagine. For Epicurus, pleasure didn’t mean chasing after luxury, fame, or wealth. Instead, it meant achieving inner peace by minimizing physical pain and mental disturbance. He believed that most suffering in life comes not from what we lack, but from what we endlessly desire.

This is where his view on wealth becomes so powerful. He flips the traditional idea on its head. In today’s society, we’re taught that being rich means accumulating—more money, more property, more status. But Epicurus teaches the opposite: that real richness is found in wanting less, not having more.

His statement, “If you wish to be rich, do not add to your money but subtract from your desires,” isn’t just clever—it’s the core of his practical wisdom. It reminds us that true wealth is not external but internal. It’s a kind of freedom: freedom from the endless chase.

This idea places Epicurus in sharp contrast to many other thinkers of his time. While others debated metaphysics or politics, he focused on one essential question: How can we live a good life? And his answer was both simple and radical—live modestly, reduce desires, and cherish peace of mind.

What Does It Really Mean to Be Rich? – The Deeper Message Behind the Quote

At first glance, the quote may seem like a moral lesson against greed. But it’s much deeper than that—it’s a complete redefinition of what it means to be rich. Epicurus invites us to shift our focus from external possessions to internal satisfaction.

Let’s break down what he’s truly saying:

To “add to your money” is the typical path society offers: working harder, earning more, buying more, investing more.
To “subtract from your desires” is the Epicurean path: needing less, being content with little, and finding joy in simplicity.

This shift in mindset leads to several important insights:

The more you desire, the more dependent you become. If your happiness depends on constantly acquiring, you are never free. You’re tied to circumstances, income, and comparison.
Reducing desire increases control. When you learn to need less, you gain power over your own well-being. You no longer have to chase the next purchase, promotion, or possession.
Inner richness is more stable than material wealth. Money can be lost. Desires can grow endlessly. But contentment—the kind Epicurus describes—is enduring.

To Epicurus, a rich person is not the one who owns a lot, but the one who is satisfied with what they already have. This doesn’t mean rejecting all comfort or denying pleasure. In fact, Epicurus believed pleasure was the goal of life—but the kind of pleasure that comes from peace of mind, modest living, and wise friendships.

Desire as the Root of Suffering – Epicurus on Human Nature

Epicurus believed that most human suffering doesn’t come from external events, but from within—from our uncontrolled desires. He wasn’t the first philosopher to recognize the power of desire, but he was one of the clearest in showing how unchecked wanting leads directly to unhappiness.

He categorized desires into three main types:

Natural and necessary desires – things like food, shelter, and friendship. These are simple needs that are easy to satisfy and are essential for well-being.
Natural but unnecessary desires – things like luxurious meals or fine clothing. While they can be pleasant, they’re not essential for happiness.
Vain and empty desires – things like wealth, fame, and power. These are artificial, created by society, and they are the most dangerous because they have no limit.

The problem arises when we treat vain desires as necessary. For example, wanting to be respected is natural—but seeking constant praise or striving to be the richest in the room leads to restlessness and frustration. That’s because these desires grow the more we feed them.

Epicurus teaches that the way to reduce suffering is not through fulfilling every desire, but through understanding which desires are worth having—and letting go of the rest. This creates a kind of mental clarity. When we stop craving what we don’t need, we become calmer, more focused, and less anxious.

It’s also worth noting that this idea matches well with modern psychological research. Studies in happiness consistently show that material gains give only short-term pleasure, while gratitude, simplicity, and meaningful relationships lead to long-term satisfaction. Epicurus was teaching this over 2,000 years ago.

So, by subtracting from our desires—especially the unnecessary and vain—we are not depriving ourselves. We are freeing ourselves. And that freedom is what Epicurus saw as the beginning of true joy.

“Pleasure is the Beginning and the End of the Blessed Life” – How It Connects to This Quote

At first glance, it might seem contradictory: Epicurus tells us to limit our desires, but then also says that pleasure is the goal of life. How can both be true?

This is where many people misunderstand Epicurus. When he says, “Pleasure is the beginning and the end of the blessed life,” he is not talking about endless indulgence. He is talking about a special kind of pleasure—the pleasure that comes from peace of mind, from living without fear, and from needing very little to be happy.

Epicurean pleasure is deeply connected to moderation, simplicity, and wisdom. It is not the pleasure of consuming more, but of craving less.

Let’s connect this idea directly to the quote:
“If you wish to be rich, do not add to your money but subtract from your desires.”

Here, Epicurus is showing that pleasure and simplicity are not opposites—they are companions. True pleasure, in his view, is not found in chasing wealth, but in no longer needing it. It is not in owning more things, but in feeling content with what you have. This is why removing desires is not a form of suffering, but a path to greater pleasure and freedom.

To put it simply:

The more you want, the more you’re disappointed.
The less you want, the more you can enjoy what you already have.

This is the paradox of happiness: The richest life is often the simplest one. Epicurus invites us to discover joy not by changing the world, but by changing what we expect from it.

In that sense, both quotes—about subtracting from desires and about pleasure being the beginning and end of the good life—are saying the same thing:
happiness comes not from outside, but from within.

How to Apply Epicurus’ Wisdom Today

Epicurus lived over two millennia ago, but the core of his message feels surprisingly modern—especially in today’s world of overstimulation, consumerism, and digital overload. His advice about subtracting from our desires is not a call to self-denial. It’s a practical invitation to live better, lighter, and freer.

So how can we actually apply this philosophy in daily life? Here are some simple but powerful steps:

Practice intentional minimalism – This doesn’t mean throwing everything away. It means being selective. Ask yourself: “Do I really need this—or do I just want it because others have it?” Choose to own fewer things, but appreciate them more.
Define your “enough” – Wealth has no limit unless you set one. Determine what “enough” means to you in terms of money, time, possessions, and lifestyle. Once you reach that point, let yourself rest.
Cultivate simple pleasures – Epicurus praised the joys of modest meals, meaningful conversations, and time spent in nature. Find pleasure in what is already accessible and repeatable, not in what is rare and expensive.
Reduce mental clutter – Desires are not just about buying things. They also include the need for validation, popularity, or control. Be aware of emotional wants that create stress. Let go of what doesn’t serve you.
Use gratitude as a daily tool – One of the best ways to desire less is to notice and appreciate what you already have. Gratitude helps refocus your attention from what’s missing to what’s meaningful.

Applying Epicurus’ wisdom doesn’t mean rejecting modern life—it means learning how to navigate it without being enslaved by it. You can still enjoy technology, progress, and achievement, but from a place of inner freedom, not constant craving. That’s the real power of subtracting from your desires—it creates space for peace, stability, and lasting happiness.

Related Philosophical Views and Contrasts with Other Schools

Epicurus was not alone in thinking about how to live a good life. His views often overlap with other ancient schools of philosophy—but they also differ in important ways. Understanding these similarities and differences can give us a clearer picture of what makes Epicureanism unique.

Let’s look at a few key comparisons:

Stoicism vs. Epicureanism
At first glance, Stoics and Epicureans seem like opposites. Stoics focus on virtue and reason, while Epicureans focus on pleasure and peace. But the deeper you look, the more they share:

Both schools value inner control over external outcomes.
Both say that a good life doesn’t depend on wealth, power, or fame.
Both promote self-sufficiency and emotional resilience.

The key difference lies in their goal:

Stoics believe virtue is the only true good. Even pleasure is meaningless if it doesn’t align with moral integrity.
Epicureans, on the other hand, view pleasure (understood as freedom from pain and fear) as the highest good.

Cynicism
Cynics like Diogenes took things to the extreme, rejecting all social norms and material possessions. Epicurus wouldn’t agree with such harshness. He saw no need to live like a beggar to be free. His version of simplicity was gentle and moderate, not radical or provocative.

Buddhism
Though geographically and culturally distant, there are deep similarities between Epicureanism and early Buddhism:

Both teach that desire leads to suffering.
Both suggest that reducing craving leads to peace.
Both emphasize the value of meditative simplicity and awareness.

Modern Minimalism and Psychology
In today’s language, Epicurus might sound like a minimalist or even a cognitive behavioral therapist. Ideas like reducing attachment, simplifying life, and focusing on intrinsic values are common themes in modern self-help, therapy, and lifestyle movements. What’s striking is how timeless his message feels.

In summary, Epicurus doesn’t stand isolated in history. His ideas echo through time and across cultures, always circling back to the same truth:
Freedom begins when we stop letting desire run our lives.

What Epicurus Meant by “If You Wish to Be Rich, Do Not Add to Your Money but Subtract from Your Desires”