Horace's philosophy of life, I think, can be summed up quite effectively by this line from his poem Gather Ye Rosebuds, addressed to Leuconoe: “This day is yours , the next one can be denied.” Horace wants to find fulfillment in life through enjoying the present hour and living a life worth living. He finds no joy in wars or worries, but says that life is only worth living if you can enjoy it as much as possible. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Gather the Rosebuds is the first poem in which Horace attests to this philosophy of life. He tells Leuconoe that he doesn't care what astrologers predict or whatever happens to him, he believes that we are powerless to act in opposition to the fate of the world, so one must drink a lot, be happy, not think about the future and generally enjoy every day like that how it comes. As we discuss politics or future uncertainties, the time you could enjoy slips away. I think this most strongly demonstrates Horace's philosophy of life. Horace also tells us that deciding to save and be strict with money is a waste. “Enjoy Your Possessions While They Are Yours” is a poem that describes death and its inevitability, but also contrasts it with the beauty of the life you may be enjoying right now. It describes a beautiful villa on the banks of the Tiber River, which you worked long and hard to purchase, only for your heirs to swoop in and take all your accumulated gold, then presumably go to waste. Horace wants us to enjoy the use of our money now, and not worry about leaving it to anyone, because you will be dead, and they will squander it anyway. He also mentions this in "We Must All Die", saying that death is inevitable and that your heirs will quickly forget about you once you die, so it's pointless to give them everything you've created. Horace's philosophy also includes his desire to escape 'it all', in “A Quiet Life”, he talks at length about the fact that human beings fight, struggle, live to find a calm and quiet life after the fact. The soldiers endure hunger, cold and marches because they want to return home in peace. Money and power do not calm the chaos in the mind, nor does being king. Horace preaches that one has few means, but one is perfectly satisfied with these means and is not constantly seeking more, more, more. All the happiest man wants is peace and quiet. You cannot escape your fate, no bodyguard will allow you to escape fear, so one must laugh and be cheerful to drown all those negative feelings and aim to live a quiet and peaceful life. In “Enjoy the Present Hour,” Horace once again displays his philosophy of living life to the fullest. He talks about a depressingly cold mountain outside, but revels in the warmth of his hearth, wine, and a little light conversation to pass the time. He says the future is the domain of the gods, let them worry about time and seasons, life and death, "Hold on to the present hour" and live in the moment. It says that one day we will all see death coming for us, at some point, and old age will destroy our bodies, but one must love one's youth before these things, to live a fulfilled life. The best times are now and only the gods have to worry about tomorrow. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Horace embraces his philosophy in Rustic Joys, here he talks about how blissful it is to be free from debt, work, creditors and..