Diogenes Quotes:

He has the most who is most content with the least.

Topics: Old Soul

I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

Topics: Book, Beer, Greek, World Citizen, Banishment

Blushing is the color of virtue.

Topics: Love, Life, Dream, Blushing

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

Topics: Silly, Animal, Intelligent

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.

Topics: Inspirational, Two, Listening, Good Listener, Talking And Listening

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.48, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Men, House, Faces

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.

Topics: Men, Looks, Philosopher, Seamen

Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.

Topics: Dog, Rewards, Philosopher, Dog Heaven, Good Dog

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.

Topics: Inspirational, Life, Motivational, Philosophy Of Education, Education And Freedom

The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.

Topics: Shining, Sun

One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings

source: - Attributed to Diogenes of Sinope in "Let a simile be your umbrella" by William Safire (p. 364), 2001.

Topics: Original Thought, Quoting, Mindless

There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool.

Topics: Wise, Men, Differences, Falling In Love With You, Fools And Wise

We are more curious about the meaning of dreams than about things we see when awake.

Topics: Dream, Spirituality, Curious

I like best the wine drunk at the cost of others.

Topics: Wine, Drunk, Cost, Best Wine, Old Wine

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.55, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Teacher, Why Not, Pupils, Whips

It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours.

source: - "Anthology (Book 3)". Book by Joannes Stobaeus, 1536.

Topics: Mad, Different

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.

Topics: Children, Drinking, Hands, Trough

Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.40, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Hurt, Feelings, Use

A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.

Topics: Two, Soul, Abiding

Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.

Topics: Wise, Wisdom, Kings, Counselor

What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.

Topics: Drinking, Wine, Drink, Food And Wine, Drinking Funny

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.

Topics: Music, Fake People, Practice, Insensible

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.

Topics: Friendship, Good Friend, Men, Self Preservation, Ardent

Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain by it. Said he - That when they speak truth they are not believed.

Topics: Truth, Lying, Gains

To arrive at perfection, a man should have very sincere friends or inveterate enemies; because he would be made sensible of his good or ill conduct, either by the censures of the one or the admonitions of the other.

Topics: Men, Perfection, Enemy, Admonition, Sincere Friends

When asked what was the proper time for supper: If you are a rich man, whenever you please; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can.

Topics: Time, Men, Rich, Supper, Supper Time

I am looking for an honest man.

Topics: Honesty, Men, Honest, Honest Man

Fools! You think of "god" as a sentient being. God is the word used to represent a force. This force created nothing, it just helps things along. It does not answer prayers, although it may make you think of a way to solve a problem. It has the power to influence you, but not decide for you.

Topics: Religious, Prayer, Thinking

I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.

Topics: Men, Want, Littles, Godlike

Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.

Topics: Men, Mad, Insanity, Being Mad, Madness And Insanity

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.

Topics: Children, Drinking, Hands, Cast Away, Plainness

When some one boasted that at the Pythian games he had vanquished men, Diogenes replied, "Nay, I defeat men, you defeat slaves .

Topics: Men, Games, Defeat

Young men not ought to marry yet, and old men never ought to marry at all.

Topics: Marriage, Men, Young

To Xeniades, who had purchased Diogenes at the slave market, he said, "Come, see that you obey orders.

Topics: Order, Slave, Said

Being asked where in Greece he saw good men , he replied, "'Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta.

Topics: Boys, Men, Good Man, Good Boy, Sparta

The sacrifice of Diogenes to all the gods.

Topics: Sacrifice, Atheism

Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I bite also my friends in order to save them.

source: - "Anthology (Book 3)". Book by Joannes Stobaeus, 1536.

Topics: Dog, Order, Enemy, Dog Bite

Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta.

Topics: Boys, Men, Good Man

Boasting, like gilded armour, is very different inside from outside.

Topics: Ego, Different, Boast, Gilded, Armour

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.

Topics: Good Friend, Enemy, Hot, Red Hot

By worrying as little as possible about fame.

Topics: Worry, Littles, Fame

Solon used to say that speech was the image of actions; . . . that laws were like cobwebs, - for that if any trifling or powerless thing fell into them, they held it fast; while if it were something weightier, it broke through them and was off.

Topics: Law, Cobwebs, Speech, Trifling

Even if I am but a pretender to wisdom, that in itself is philosophy.

source: - "Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers". Book by Diogenes Laërtius (Book 6 "The Cynics", Chapter "Diogenes", No. LXIV), circa 200 AD.

Topics: Philosophy, Pretender

Protagoras asserted that there are two sides to every question, exactly opposite to each other.

source: - Quoted in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers

Topics: Opposites, Two Sides, Two

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, "Here is Plato's man.

Topics: Plato, Animal, Men, Plato S

He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, "I am looking for a human .

source: - "Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Book 6: The Cynics". Book by Diogenes Laërtius translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925.

Topics: Lamps, Daylight, Broads

Lust is a strong tower of mischief, and hath in it many defenders, as neediness, anger, paleness, discord, love, and longing.

Topics: Strong, Lust, Towers, Neediness

Ability in man is an apt good, if it be applied to good ends.

Topics: Men, Ends, Ability

Self-taught poverty is a help toward philosophy , for the things which philosophy attempts to teach by reasoning , poverty forces us to practice .

source: - "Anthology (Book 4)". Book by Joannes Stobaeus, 1536.

Topics: Philosophy, Self, Practice, Self Taught

Virtue cannot dwell with wealth either in a city or in a house.

Topics: Cities, House, Wealth

The noblest people are those despising wealth , learning , pleasure and life ; esteeming above them poverty , ignorance , hardship and death .

Topics: Ignorance, People, Hardship

When the slave auctioneer asked in what he was proficient, he replied, "In ruling people .

Topics: People, Slave, Ruling

He was breakfasting in the marketplace, and the bystanders gathered round him with cries of " dog ." "It is you who are dogs," cried he, "when you stand round and watch me at my breakfast.

Topics: Dog, Bystanders, Watches, Watch Me

To the question what wine he found pleasant to drink, he replied, "That for which other people pay.

Topics: Wine, People, Pay

He once begged alms of a statue, and, when asked why he did so, replied, "To get practice in being refused.

Topics: Practice, Alms

When some one reminded him that the people of Sinope had sentenced him to exile , he said, "And I sentenced them to stay at home .

Topics: Home, People, Said

Once he saw the officials of a temple leading away some one who had stolen a bowl belonging to the treasurers, and said, "The great thieves are leading away the little thief.

Topics: Thieves, Littles, Saws, Treasurer

Asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world .

Topics: Citizens, World, Said

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.

Topics: Tarantulas, Wonderful, Said

He was seized and dragged off to King Philip, and being asked who he was, replied, "A spy upon your insatiable greed .

Topics: Kings, Greed, Spy

Let us not unlearn what we have already learned

Topics: Unlearn

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.

Topics: Noise, Calumny, Madmen, Calumny Is

Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them.

Topics: Wise, Leader, Counselor, Wise Leaders, Wise Person

If I lack awareness, then why should I care what happens to me when I am dead?

Topics: Care, Awareness, I Care

The art of being a slave is to rule one's master.

Topics: Art, Slave, Masters

Poverty is a virtue which one can teach oneself.

Topics: Poverty, Virtue, Teach

The only way to gall and fret effectively is for yourself to be a good and honest man.

Topics: Men, Way, Honest

Aren't you ashamed, you who walk backward along the whole path of existence, and blame me for walking backward along the path of the promenade?

source: - "Anthology (Book 3)". Book by Joannes Stobaeus, 1536.

Topics: Path, Blame, Existence, Promenade, Blame Me

No man is hurt but by himself.

Topics: Hurt, Educational, Men

Discourse on virtue and they pass by in droves. Whistle and dance the shimmy, and you've got an audience.

Topics: Dance, Virtue, Discourse, Whistling, Funny Dance

If only it was as easy to banish hunger by rubbing the belly as it is to masturbate.

source: - "Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Book 6: The Cynics". Book by Diogenes Laërtius translated by R. D. Hicks, 1925.

Topics: Food, Hunger, Easy

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

Topics: Mother, Motherhood, Tyrants

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.

Topics: Dog, Giving, Teeth, Rascals, Fawns

It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.

Topics: Men, Expression, Valuable, Valuable Things

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

Topics: Wise, Men

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.

Topics: Sunshine, Giving, May

All things are in common among friends.

Topics: Friendship, Common

The question was put to him, what hope is; and his answer was, "The dream of a waking man."

Topics: Dream, Men, Answers

The great thieves lead away the little thief.

Topics: Thieves, Littles, Crime

The Sun visits cesspools without being defiled.

Topics: Association, Sun

The health and vigor necessary for the practice of what is good, depend equally on both mind and body.

Topics: Practice, Mind, Vigor

To become self-educated you should condemn yourself for all those things that you would criticize others.

Topics: Self, Should, Criticize

Nothing can be produced out of nothing.

Topics: Thinking

You will become a teacher of yourself when for the same things that you blame others, you also blame yourself.

Topics: Teacher, Blame

There is a false love that will make you something you are not.

Topics: False Love, Catchy

On being asked by someone how he could become famous, Diogenes responded: 'By worrying as little as possible about fame

Topics: Worry, Littles, Fame

We come into the world alone and we die alone. Why, in life, should we be any less alone?

Topics: World, Should

No man is hurt but by himself. ...Literally by how he interprets what happens to him. If he focusses on how it could have been better, he will be hurt. If he focusses on how it could have been worse, he will be happy. The same is true for women too.

Topics: Gratitude, Hurt, Men

The chief good is the suspension of the judgment [especially negative judgement], which tranquillity of mind follows like its shadow.

Topics: Gratitude, Judgement, Mind, Suspension, Tranquillity

Chilo advised, "not to speak evil of the dead."

Topics: Evil, Speak

Democritus says, "But we know nothing really; for truth lies deep down."

Topics: Truth, Lying

When Alexander the Great addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, Diogenes replied "Yes, stand a little out of my sunshine .

Topics: Sunshine, Littles, Greetings, My Sunshine

Antisthenes used to say that envious people were devoured by their own disposition, just as iron is by rust. Envy of others comes from comparing what they have with what the envious person has, rather than the envious person realising they have more than what they could have and certainly more than some others and being grateful. It is really just an inability to get a correct perspective on their lives.

Topics: Gratitude, Grateful, Iron

Aristotle dines when it seems good to King Philip, but Diogenes when he himself pleases.

Topics: Kings, Dine, Please

I pissed on the man who called me a dog. Why was he so surprised?

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.51, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Dog, Men, He Man

People who talk well but do nothing are like musical intruments; the sound is all they have to offer.

Topics: People, Musical, Sound

The most beautiful thing in the world is freedom of speech.

Topics: Beautiful, Freedom Of Speech, World, Cast Away, Ballparks

We have complicated every simple gift of the gods.

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.56, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Simple, Complicated

Education gives sobriety to the young, comfort to the old, riches to the poor and is an ornament to the rich.

Topics: Giving, Sobriety, Comfort

As houses well stored with provisions are likely to be full of mice, so the bodies of those that eat much are full of diseases.

Topics: House, Body, Disease

I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels.

Topics: Dog, Kind, Greedy

If your cloak was a gift, I appreciate it; if it was a loan, I'm not through with it yet.

source: - Herakleitos, Diogenes (2011). “Herakleitos and Diogenes: Translated from the Greek by Guy Davenport”, p.54, Wipf and Stock Publishers

Topics: Appreciate, Loan, Cloaks

When two friends part they should lock up each other's secrets and exchange keys. The truly noble mind has no resentments.

Topics: Keys, Two Friends, Secret, Lock Up

Love comes with hunger.

Topics: Hunger

I am looking for a human.

source: - "Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers". Book by Diogenes Laërtius (Book 6: The Cynics, Chapter: Diogenes, Section VI), circa 200 AD.

Topics: Humans