Diogenes

To be a good boxer, you must hit hard and be hit hard.

c. 350 BCE — Reflects his belief in enduring hardship for strength and virtue.

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Man has complicated every simple gift of the gods.

c. 350 BCE — Reflects his criticism of human artifice and departure from natural living.

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am looking for an honest man.

4th century BCE — Holding a lamp in daylight

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Stand out of my sunlight.

4th century BCE — Response to Alexander the Great

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

3rd century CE — Anecdote from Diogenes Laertius

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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.

4th century BCE — Response to Alexander the Great

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The only way to escape the miseries of life is to despise them.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The sun penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

All things are the property of the wise.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Confirmed

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

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The love of money is the mother of all evils.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

When I am with two people, I always find one of them my teacher.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.

3rd century CE — From Diogenes Laertius' 'Lives of Eminent Philosophers'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Sayings by Diogenes