Diogenes of Sinope Quotes
Diogenes of Sinope was an ancient Greek philosopher and one of the founders of the Cynic school. After his exile from Sinope on the Black Sea coast he settled in Athens, where he lived in deliberate poverty and used public spectacle to expose what he took to be the folly of conventional values. The quotes below are attributed to Diogenes of Sinope, organized by topic.
Browse Diogenes of Sinope by topic
Diogenes of Sinope on Death
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“Perdiccas threatened to put him to death unless he came to him, "That's nothing wonderful," Diogenes said, "for a beetle or a tarantula would do the same."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 44
Diogenes of Sinope on Freedom
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Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“Stand a little less between me and the sun.”
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“When some one boasted that at the Pythian games he had vanquished men, Diogenes replied, "Nay, I defeat men, you defeat slaves ."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 33, 43 -
“To Xeniades , who had purchased Diogenes at the slave market, he said, "Come, see that you obey orders."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 36 -
“When the slave auctioneer asked in what he was proficient, he replied, "In ruling people ."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 74 -
“Philo , Every Good Man is Free , F. H. Colson, trans. (1941), 157”
Quoted by Philo
Diogenes of Sinope on Happiness
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Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“He has the most who is most content with the least.”
Diogenes of Sinope on Justice
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“If you are to be kept right , you must possess either good friends or red-hot enemies . The one will warn you, the other will expose you.”
Plutarch , Moralia , 74C
Diogenes of Sinope on Knowledge
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Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.”
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Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?”
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“When Alexander the Great addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, Diogenes replied "Yes, stand a little out of my sunshine .”
From Plutarch , Alexander , 14. Cf. Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 38, Cicero , Tusculan Disputations , v. 32 -
“From Plutarch , Alexander , 14. Cf. Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 38, Cicero , Tusculan Disputations , v. 32”
When Alexander the Great addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, Diogenes replied "Yes, stand a little out of my sunshine . -
“Plutarch , On Exile , 12 ( Moralia , 604D)”
Aristotle dines when it seems good to King Philip , but Diogenes when he himself pleases. -
“Plutarch , Moralia , 74C”
If you are to be kept right , you must possess either good friends or red-hot enemies . The one will warn you, the other will expose you. -
“On reaching Athens he fell in with Antisthenes. Being repulsed by him, because he never welcomed pupils, by sheer persistence Diogenes wore him out. Once when he stretched out his staff against him, the pupil offered his head with the words, "Strike, for you will find no wood hard enough to keep me away from you, so long as I think you've something to say.”
Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 21, -
“Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 21,”
On reaching Athens he fell in with Antisthenes. Being repulsed by him, because he never welcomed pupils, by sheer persistence Diogenes wore him out. Once when he stretched out his staff against him, the pupil offered his head with the words, "Strike, for you will find no wood hard enough to keep me away from you, so long as I think you've something to say. -
“Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 27”
Being asked where in Greece he saw good men , he replied, "Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta. -
“He used to reason as follows: 'Everything belongs to the gods; the wise are friends of the gods; friends hold all things in common; ergo , everything belongs to the wise.'”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 37, as reported in Diogenes the Cynic: Sayings and Anecdotes as translated by Robin Hard ( Oxford : 2012), p. 13 -
“The noblest people are those despising wealth , learning , pleasure and life ; esteeming above them poverty , ignorance , hardship and death .”
Quoted by Stobaeus | Stobaeus , iv. 29a. 19
Diogenes of Sinope on Life
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“One day, observing a child drinking out of his hands, he cast away the cup from his wallet with the words, "A child has beaten me in plainness of living."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 37 -
“He was going into a theatre, meeting face to face those who were coming out, and being asked why, "This," he said, "is what I practise doing all my life."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 64
Diogenes of Sinope on Nature
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“Plato had defined Man as an animal, biped and featherless, and was applauded. Diogenes plucked a fowl and brought it into the lecture-room with the words, "Behold Plato's man!"”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 40
Diogenes of Sinope on Politics
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“I am a citizen of the world.”
Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 63 -
Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“The mob is the mother of tyrants.”
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Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope:
“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”
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“Asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world ."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 63
Diogenes of Sinope on Time
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“To one who asked what was the proper time for lunch, he said, "If a rich man, when you will; if a poor man, when you can."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius | Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 40
Diogenes of Sinope on Truth
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“Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 41. This line is frequently translated as "I am looking for an honest man."”
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius
Diogenes of Sinope on Virtue
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“I am looking for an honest man.”
He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, "I am looking for a human . -
“Aristotle dines when it seems good to King Philip , but Diogenes when he himself pleases.”
Plutarch , On Exile , 12 ( Moralia , 604D) -
“Being asked where in Greece he saw good men , he replied, "Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta.”
Diogenes Laërtius , vi. 27 -
“Virtue cannot dwell with wealth either in a city or in a house.”
Quoted by Stobaeus | Stobaeus , iv. 31c. 88 -
“Poverty is a virtue which one can teach oneself.”
Quoted by Stobaeus | Stobaeus , iv. 32a. 19