Aulus Manlius Torquatus

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Aulus Manlius Torquatus (Flor. epit. 1,41,9) (Nep. Att. 11,2). Praetor in 70 BC, Pompeius' Legate. He leaved Rome with Pompey after the victory of Caesar. He was a friend of Cicero and above all of Atticus [Nep. Att. 15,3], who did Epicurean-like arguing with a person from Epicurean family whom we may suppose an Epicurean. In a letter of uncertain/unknown addressee (philologists opt for Aulus) C. wish that "our friend Siro in particular finds out about" your feelings for me. [Fam. VI, 11].

"I hope that you will practise this consolation: while I'm alive, nothing will worry me, because I made no wrong deed, and when I shall die, I shall be devoid of any feeling." [Fam. VI,3].
"There is not such great damage that I mightn't loom ahead. But since is there more p a i n in worries than in what is worried, I leave it off, in particular since it is hanging over, this way pain is not in , but also because is going to be a l i m i t of the pain" [...] but you must find strength of mind in yourself, as it is already in your habits, and you are in Athens where the very walls seem to be able to express these ideas". [Cic. Fam VI,4].

Eighteen centuries later an enlightenment thinker of the same country will write some Epicurean-like reflections: "Each mental pain is only worry. This one is plain anticipation of indeterminate suffering. [...] Worries are frequently visionary, and are always having a part of chance contrary to their accomplishment. One can deconstruct them through reasoning, or exhaust them, or get them out of one's head, seeing the uselessness to suffer them. As major improvements are done toward true philosophy, as more one is rid of these harms [Pietro Verri (1773) ,Treatise on nature of pleasure and pain].