Allthepleasuresandpainsofthemindwere，accordingtoEpicurus，ultimatelyderivedfromthoseofthebody。Themindwashappywhenitthoughtofthepastpleasuresofthebody，andhopedforotherstocome:anditwasmiserablewhenitthoughtofthepainswhichthebodyhadformerlyendured，anddreadedthesameorgreaterthereafter。
Butthepleasuresandpainsofthemind，thoughultimatelyderivedfromthoseofthebody，werevastlygreaterthantheiroriginals。Thebodyfeltonlythesensationofthepresentinstant，whereasthemindfeltalsothepastandthefuture，theonebyremembrance，theotherbyanticipation，andconsequentlybothsufferedandenjoyedmuchmore。Whenweareunderthegreatestbodilypain，heobserved，weshallalwaysfind，ifweattendtoit，thatitisnotthesufferingofthepresentinstantwhichchieflytormentsus，buteithertheagonizingremembranceofthepast，ortheyetmorehorribledreadofthefuture。Thepainofeachinstant，consideredbyitself，andcutofffromallthatgoesbeforeandallthatcomesafterit，isatrifle，notworththeregarding。YetthisisallwhichtheboDycaneverbesaidtosuffer。Inthesamemanner，whenweenjoythegreatestpleasure，weshallalwaysfindthatthebodilysensation，thesensationofthepresentinstant，makesbutasmallpartofourhappiness，thatourenjoymentchieflyariseseitherfromthecheerfulrecollectionofthepast，orthestillmorejoyousanticipationofthefuture，andthatthemindalwayscontributesbymuchthelargestshareoftheentertainment。
Sinceourhappinessandmisery，therefore，dependedchieflyonthemind，ifthispartofournaturewaswelldisposed，ifourthoughtsandopinionswereastheyshouldbe，itwasoflittleimportanceinwhatmannerourbodywasaffected。Thoughundergreatbodilypain，wemightstillenjoyaconsiderableshareofhappiness，ifourreasonandjudgmentmaintainedtheirsuperiority。Wemightentertainourselveswiththeremembranceofpast，andwiththehopesoffuturepleasure；wemightsoftentherigourofourpains，byrecollectingwhatitwaswhich，eveninthissituation，wewereunderanynecessityofsuffering。Thatthiswasmerelythebodilysensation，thepainofthepresentinstant，whichbyitselfcouldneverbeverygreat。Thatwhateveragonywesufferedfromthedreadofitscontinuance，wastheeffectofanopinionofthemind，whichmightbecorrectedbyjustersentiments；byconsideringthat，ifourpainswereviolent，theywouldprobablybeofshortduration；andthatiftheywereoflongcontinuance，theywouldprobablybemoderate，andadmitofmanyintervalsofease；andthat，atanyrate，deathwasalwaysathandandwithincalltodeliverus，whichas，accordingtohim，itputanendtoallsensation，eitherofpainorpleasure，couldnotberegardedasanevil。Whenweare，saidhe，deathisnot；andwhendeathis，wearenot；deaththereforecanbenothingtous。
Iftheactualsensationofpositivepainwasinitselfsolittletobefeared，thatofpleasurewasstilllesstobedesired。Naturallythesensationofpleasurewasmuchlesspungentthanthatofpain。If，therefore，thislastcouldtakesoverylittlefromthehappinessofawell-disposedmind，theothercouldaddscarceanythingtoit。Whenthebodywasfreefrompainandthemindfromfearandanxiety，thesuperaddedsensationofbodilypleasurecouldbeofverylittleimportance；andthoughitmightdiversifycouldnotproperlybesaidtoincreasethehappinessofthesituation。
Ineaseofbody，therefore，andinsecurityortranquillityofmind，consisted，accordingtoEpicurus，themostperfectstateofhumannature，themostcompletehappinesswhichmanwascapableofenjoying。Toobtainthisgreatendofnaturaldesirewasthesoleobjectofallthevirtues，which，accordingtohim，werenotdesirableupontheirownaccount，butuponaccountoftheirtendencytobringaboutthissituation。