Epicurus taught that true pleasure is gained from intellectual discussion and long-term friendship, that happiness is sitting in the shade in a Summer garden discussing philosophy, and that life is to be lived to the full, but with simplicity and moderation.
When you think of it Epicureanism is a self-defeating philosophy. It was , in my opinion, greatly superior to the philosophies of life proposed by a host of thinkers during the period of the Roman Empire, but once Epicurus died his successors sat in the shade of a Summer garden discussing philosophy, living life simply, with moderation as prescribed, and there was no one to defend Epicureanism from the vicious attacks of other philosophic schools and the early Christian church, or to promote its ideas. And thus it died, under a hail of lies and misinformation from the superstitious.
As we know at the current time, people are only too happy to hear the worst of others and, despite the clear evidence of incompetence and maladministration, believe everything they hear because it is in the media.
We should have a new definition of patriotism.