Among the ancient philosophers, the Epicureans believed they could achieve happiness by curbing their desires. When someone is described as an epicurean today, we think of a person who delights in fine food and wine and the other pleasures of life. But the original Epicureans were ascetics who aimed to reduce their pleasures to a minimum. They dined on a simple diet of bread, cheese and olives. They had no objection to sex as long as it was used medicinally, as a remedy against frustration, and not mixed with infatuation or what we would nowadays call romantic love, which would only disturb
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