1001Philosophers

Onesicritus c. 360 BC – c. 290 BC

Onesicritus (c. 360 BC – c. 290 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Cynicism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Onesicritus of Astypalaea was a Greek Cynic philosopher of the late fourth century BC, a pupil of Diogenes of Sinope, who accompanied Alexander the Great on his Indian campaign as a navigator and historian. According to Strabo, he was sent by Alexander to converse with the Indian sages, the gymnosophists, on his behalf, and his lost work How Alexander Was Educated and his Indica gave the first Greek philosophical account of an Indian intellectual tradition, in which he found in the gymnosophists confirmation of the Cynic ideal of austere natural life. His work was widely read in antiquity and shaped the long Greek and Roman fascination with Indian sages.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Ancient
Movements
Cynicism, Ancient Greek Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Onesicritus:

    “The gymnosophists of India confirm what Diogenes had already taught.”

  • Attributed to Onesicritus:

    “The wise man, naked under the sun, has more to teach than the king under his canopy.”

  • Attributed to Onesicritus:

    “Travel does not change the wise; it gives them new occasions for the same wisdom.”

  • Attributed to Onesicritus:

    “Alexander educated by Diogenes would have been Alexander indeed.”

  • Attributed to Onesicritus:

    “What is taught in many tongues is more likely to be true than what is taught in one.”

Frequently asked about Onesicritus

When did Onesicritus live?
Onesicritus was born in c. 360 BC and died in c. 290 BC.
Where was Onesicritus from?
Onesicritus was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Onesicritus associated with?
Onesicritus was associated with Cynicism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
What was Onesicritus known for?
Onesicritus of Astypalaea was a Greek Cynic philosopher of the late fourth century BC, a pupil of Diogenes of Sinope, who accompanied Alexander the Great on his Indian campaign as a navigator and historian.
How many quotes are attributed to Onesicritus?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Onesicritus in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.