Diogenes was a pupil of Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates. Antisthenes believed that happiness was only obtained by “complete independence”, throwing away comfortable life and living with nothing and in extreme poverty, eating and drinking with his hands only.
He was an unconventional and controversial philosopher. It was said of Diogenes that throughout his life he “searched with a lantern in the daylight for an honest man.” And though Diogenes apparently did not find an honest man, he had, in the process, “exposed the vanity and selfishness of man.” His goal was to show people how pathetic their superficial lives were and how dishonest society was.
(circa 412-323)
– Diogenes Quotes –
I have nothing to ask but that you would remove to the other side, that you may not, by intercepting the sunshine, take from me what you cannot give.
~ Diogenes
As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task.
~ Diogenes
Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.
~ Diogenes
It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.
~ Diogenes
I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.
~ Diogenes
I am called a dog because I fawn on those who give me anything, I yelp at those who refuse, and I set my teeth in rascals.
~ Diogenes
The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.
~ Diogenes
Man is the most intelligent of the animals – and the most silly.
~ Diogenes
We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.
~ Diogenes
Blushing is the color of virtue.
~ Diogenes
A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.
~ Diogenes
I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.
~ Diogenes
The vine bears three kinds of grapes: the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of disgust.
~ Diogenes
Most men are within a finger’s breadth of being mad.
~ Diogenes
Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.
~ Diogenes
I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.
~ Diogenes
The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.
~ Diogenes
It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.
~ Diogenes
What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.
~ Diogenes
The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.
~ Diogenes
I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.
~ Diogenes
When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all beings; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man.
~ Diogenes
The mob is the mother of tyrants.
~ Diogenes
Stand a little less between me and the sun.
~ Diogenes
He has the most who is most content with the least.
~ Diogenes
The great thieves lead away the little thief.
~ Diogenes
It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.
~ Diogenes
No man is hurt but by himself.
~ Diogenes
Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings?
~ Diogenes
