Epicurus, 341-270 BC, is one of the most frequently - and often intentionally - misunderstood authors of antiquity. At the center of his thought is the question: What is the basis of the happiness of the wise? Epicurus answers: The wise person organizes their life according to rules that free them from fear - both of the gods and of death - as well as from desire and pain. Therefore, Epicurus' concept of pleasure does not lead, as has often been claimed, to gluttony, selfishness, and debauchery, but rather to a state of tranquility that results from a withdrawn, natural way of life. A person should take pleasure in the things that nature provides, while also being modest: with a circle of friends, a cup of wine, and a piece of bread. Epicurus' influence extends from Cicero, Seneca, and the late Neoplatonists to the French moralists of the 17th century, and even to Nietzsche and the present day.