Why did Epicurus encourage people to limit their wants?

In the context of ethics, it is a common misconception that Epicureanism advocates for the unrestrained pursuit of luxury or sensory indulgence. In reality, Epicurus taught that the supreme good is the absence of pain from the body and the soul.1

Epicurus encouraged the limitation of desires because he believed that true pleasure reaches a natural limit beyond which it does not grow but merely changes. By practicing temperance and limiting one's wants, an individual avoids the unnecessary suffering and anxiety that often accompany the pursuit of excessive or unattainable desires. This approach allows one to achieve a state of tranquility and a "withdrawn and quiet life," which is essential for maintaining inner peace.1

Ultimately, this asceticism is not about self-denial for its own sake, but rather a strategic choice to secure a stable, lasting state of well-being. By focusing on simple, sustainable joys—such as friendship—the Epicurean avoids the "hedonistic paradox," where the deliberate and frantic pursuit of pleasure often leads to frustration rather than happiness.12