Freedom from mental anguish

Letter to Menoeceus

"Genuine Pleasure

When we say that pleasure is the goal, we are not talking about the pleasure of profligates or that which lies in sensuality, as some ignorant persons think, or else those who do not agree with us or have followed our argument badly; rather it is freedom from bodily pain and mental anguish."

or

"The just man is most free of perturbation, while the unjust man is full of the greatest disturbance."

- Epicurus

Note "freedom from...mental anguish" as a primary goal of Epicurian philosophy. Why cultivate the virtues of prudence and justice? Because exercising these virtues produces freedom from mental anguish. We don't do it to please the gods. We do it so we can live with ourselves.