Wolves Eat Alone: Lessons from Epicurus

By Jake Conrad

For over two millennia, Hellenistic philosophy has played an outsized role in shaping the ethics of prominent military leaders. The impact of these Greek thinkers has shone through the words and deeds of classical legends like Scipio Africanus, who conquered Carthage in 202 BCE, and Marcus Aurelius, who defeated the Marcomanni in 180 CE. This legacy also extends to more recent times, embodied by Frederick the Great and even our own George Washington. In fact, Greco-Roman ethics greatly influenced the American Founding Fathers, captured in the writings of Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison.  At Valley Forge, General Washington insisted that Joseph Addison’s play The Tragedy of Cato be performed for the troops as the evening entertainment. There are even similarities between Addison’s dialogue and Washington’s revered Newburgh Address.  

Within the military community, the Stoic school of philosophy has become a crowd favorite, and it’s easy to understand why. Stoicism maintains that virtue is the only good and that in its pursuit we achieve enduring happiness and tranquility.  Many of the great Stoic thinkers engaged in some form of military service–and formative combat experiences shaped their world view. As a result, the Hellenistic Stoic teachings parallel many of the physical, spiritual, and emotional challenges military leaders face today. While writing Meditations, Marcus Aurelius suffered through endless months campaigning under miserable conditions in Germania. I like to imagine him scribbling his thoughts on scraps of parchment, desperately trying to stay warm during wet winters. His experience is one with which military leaders can relate. We know what it’s like to be wet, cold, and hungry. We want to know how he coped. Although Stoicism deserves its place in today’s professional curricula, other Post-Socratic schools of philosophy offer meaningful lessons for leaders. One school that is consistently overlooked is Epicureanism.

Born in 341 BC, Epicurus began life with a humble upbringing on an island in the Aegean Sea. At the age of 18, he sailed to the mainland to fulfill a two-year term of military service. Eventually, he settled in Athens and founded The Garden, a meeting place for his followers. Despite preaching that happiness results from the absence of physical suffering, Epicurus suffered from severe chronic pain. Even so, he remained satisfied and cheerful through the end of his days. 

Many mistakenly associate Epicureanism with classical Hedonism. We imagine Epicurus wasting days in a lush garden, indulging endlessly in all joys of the flesh. Although there is some overlap, our modern understanding of Hedonism fails to truly capture the nuanced teachings of the Epicureans. Epicurus argues that our innate primal drive is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, but this definition of pleasure differs from today’s common understanding. To Epicurus, pleasure is painlessness of the body and tranquility of the mind. This is the key to happiness, and what’s more, it’s relatively easy to obtain. Although not often referenced, Epicurean ethics offers valuable lessons for leaders at all echelons. Below, I’ve distilled some of Epicurus’ key insights and related them to our military profession.    

What is Good is Easy to Get

“Pleasure is the first good. It is the beginning of every choice and aversion.”

Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus

Epicurus preaches that what is good is what maximizes pleasure, but that not all forms of pleasure are equal. He subdivides pleasure into two categories – Static and Kinetic. Static Pleasure is the steady-state joy felt when an individual is free from physical pain. To achieve this state, one’s physiological needs must be met and the mind must be at peace. To Epicurus, this is the form of pleasure that results in true happiness. Alternatively, Kinetic Pleasure may provide a temporary boost in enjoyment, but comes at a cost. For example, eating a gallon of ice cream for dinner feels good, but results in a stomachache. In this way, Kinetic Pleasures are to be avoided because they contribute to long-term unhappiness.

According to Epicurus, once our basic needs are met (the first rung of Maslow’s hierarchy) we can achieve happiness. Daniel Kahneman’s publication on money and contentment provides evidence for this outlook. Kahneman found that as personal income increases from $0 – 75,000, individual happiness increases, but at higher amounts, happiness levels remain static. As long as primary needs are met, money doesn’t buy happiness. As military members, we’re often deprived of access to Kinetic Pleasures. When conducting field training exercises or deploying under austere conditions, most luxuries are stripped away. For many, this environmental shock runs the same course. For the first few days, we feel the pain associated with the loss. Consuming Meals-Ready-to-Eat and sleeping in the dirt is a far cry from a home cooked meal and a warm bed. But eventually, our steady-state pleasure normalizes. Epicurus claims that this simplification and moderation brings us closer to achieving true fulfillment.

Regardless of your thoughts on pleasure, there is value to be found in the Epicurean outlook. It pays to pass on short-term indulgences to achieve a goal, temporary pain may need to be endured to increase long-term happiness, and living a moderate life is not only good, but easy to achieve.

What is Terrible is Easy to Endure

“Pain is neither intolerable nor everlasting, if thou bear in mind that it has its limits, and if thou addest nothing to it in imagination.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations VII

 When suffering through a pain, illness, or calamity, don’t seek pity from an Epicurean. Epicureans shrug off the misfortunes of themselves and others. It’s not that they enjoy suffering. On the contrary, they view it as the root of evil. Epicureans cope by channeling the ubiquitous mantra – this too shall pass.

The temporary nature of pain is aptly encapsulated by the greeting card phrase – after the rain comes the rainbow. Epicureans believe that current pain provides an opportunity to experience future pleasure. Let’s imagine you’re struggling from an awful toothache and the only available dentist is an Epicurean. Dr. Epicurus may pass on providing painkillers, claiming that the relief of removing the infected tooth will outweigh all previous suffering. Despite sounding alien, we can find practical examples of this concept in our daily lives. Imagine crossing the finish line after running a marathon, or feeling your sinuses clear after recovering from the flu. To cope with tough circumstances, Epicurus advises us to focus on the inevitable future pleasure. 

The power underlying this maxim is that it imparts meaning to our suffering, even if it is as rudimentary as relief from pain. If we suffer with purpose, we may find ourselves more able to endure.        

Eating without a Friend is the Life of a Wolf

“Of all the means to ensure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.”  – Epicurus, On Happiness 

Despite his ethical egoism, Epicurus endorses friendship as an immortal good, expressing that “to eat and drink without a friend is to devour like the lion and the wolf.” The importance of this adage has been restated many times over. Epicurus claims that friendship maximizes pleasure because it increases our confidence and allows us to see ourselves. By confidence, Epicurus is referring to peace of mind or security. For example, if you lose your job, a true friend will provide help to get you back on your feet. Epicurus takes this a step further, stating that the knowledge that a friend will help is actually more valuable than the help itself. This friendship alleviates us from future anxieties or worries that are destructive to our mental tranquility. Additionally, friends hold each other accountable for personal happiness. Since Kinetic Pleasures detract from joy, friends guide their companions away from these temptations. Real friends remind you that ice cream is a poor dinner choice.

The Army’s organization mirrors Epicurus’s thoughts. Officers are always paired with an enlisted counterpart, or as an Epicurean would say, a friend. Whether it’s a Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, or Command Sergeant Major, an officer’s success is highly dependent upon his or her relationship with this battle buddy. Great leaders leverage this bond to improve their formations and one another. We should strive to be the type of battle buddy Epicurus describes. True friends are there for one another in times of adversity, hold one another accountable, and always speak the truth.

The Pursuit of Happiness 

Whether we like it or not, the Epicurean ethic has made an indelible mark on the American national identity. It has its roots in our prized founding document, the Declaration of Independence. In the second paragraph, Jefferson states that “the pursuit of happiness” is a self-evident and unalienable right. Surprisingly, this iconic phrase was a substitution. The original design, inspired by John Locke’s trinity, called instead for “life, liberty and the preservation of property.” Luckily, Jefferson had an appreciation for classical philosophy. 

Despite modern interpretations, the happiness our Founders illustrate isn’t found in material wealth or the pursuit of luxury. Although it’s up to each of us to define what happiness is, we can be confident that the Epicurean ideal is what Jefferson had in mind. If Epicurean ethics are important enough to be included in our Nation’s foundation, they surely offer lessons for our daily lives. By incorporating some of these thoughts into how we lead, we can improve ourselves while connecting with history. 

About the Author

Jake Conrad is an active duty Army Armor officer serving as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern at the Pentagon.