Plutarch, That Epicurus actually makes a pleasant life impossible 22.1103a = T 68 Radt

How to quote this translation

ἢ τῶι μὲν Ἐπικούρωι καὶ Μητρόδωρος καὶ Πολύαινος καὶ Ἀριστόβουλος “ἐκθάρσημα” καὶ “γῆθος” ἦσαν… Λυκοῦργος δ’ ὑπὸ τῆς Πυθίας προσαγορευθεὶς

“Ζηνὶ φίλος καὶ πᾶσιν Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχουσι”

καὶ Σωκράτης οἰόμενος αὑτῶι διαλέγεσθαι τὸ δαιμόνιον ὑπ’ εὐμενείας καὶ Πίνδαρος ἀκούων ὑπὸ τοῦ Πανὸς ἄιδεσθαί τι μέλος ὧν αὐτὸς ἐποίησε μετρίως ἔχαιρεν; ἢ Φορμίων τοὺς Διοσκόρους ἢ τὸν Ἀσκληπιὸν Σοφοκλῆς ξενίζειν αὐτός τε πειθόμενος καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οὕτως ἐχόντων διὰ τὴν γενομένην ἐπιφάνειαν;

Or were Metrodorus, Polyaenus and Aristoboulus a source of confidence and joy to Epicurus… while Lycurgus, who was addressed by the Pythia as

‘friend to Zeus and all those who dwell on Olympus,’

and Socrates, who thought that the divine was conversing with him benevolently, and Pindar, when he heard that one of the songs that he himself had composed was being sung by Pan, were only moderately pleased? Or Phormio, who hosted the Dioscuri, or Sophocles who hosted Asclepius, both he and others being convinced of this because of the epiphany that had occurred?


Relevant guides Sophocles