# LIV explained — Short Works

> Chapter companion for Short Works by Epictetus.

## What happens

A brief, aphoristic statement on the nature of pleasure, observing that the rarest pleasures provide the greatest delight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moderation and Simplicity

The excerpt implicitly critiques the pursuit of common or constant pleasures, suggesting that true delight is found in rarity and, by extension, in not overindulging the senses.

## Key lines

> Of pleasures those which occur most rarely give the greatest delight.

The most intense joys come from experiences that are infrequent, not from those that are commonplace or constantly sought.

_This concise observation connects the value of pleasure to its scarcity, advising a measured approach to seeking gratification._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters/liv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters