One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.īehold! I’ve brought you a man. We have complicated every simple gift of the gods. The art of being a slave is to rule one’s master. People who talk well but do nothing are like musical instruments the sound is all they have to offer. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.īoasting, like gilded armour, is very different inside from outside. Famous Diogenes Quotesĭogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards. Why, in life, should we be any less alone? ~ Diogenes of Sinope.Ī friend is one soul abiding in two bodies. We come into the world alone and we die alone. The health and vigor necessary for the practice of what is good, depend equally on both mind and body. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.Ībility in man is an apt good, if it be applied to good ends. The vine bears three kinds of grapes – the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of disgust. Wise kings generally have wise counselors and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.Ĭalumny is only the noise of madmen. There is only a finger’s difference between a wise man and a fool. We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less. The great thieves lead away the little thief. Lust is a strong tower of mischief, and has in it many defenders, as neediness, anger, paleness, discord, love, and longing. Stand a little less between me and the sun. We are more curious about the meaning of dreams than about things we see when awake. He has the most who is most content with the least. The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them. What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.Īs a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instructs him and the latter takes him to task. The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. It takes a wise man to discover a wise man. It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours. If your cloak was a gift, I appreciate it if it was a loan, I’m not through with it yet. Young men ought not to marry yet, and old men never ought to marry at all. Most men are within a finger’s breadth of being mad. Poverty is a virtue which one can teach oneself. ~ Diogenes of Sinope.Įven if I am but a pretender to wisdom, that in itself is philosophy. Other dogs bite only their enemies, whereas I also bite my friends in order to save them. The most beautiful thing in the world is freedom of speech. You will become a teacher of yourself when for the same things that you blame others, you also blame yourself. I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be. Virtue cannot dwell with wealth either in a city or in a house. Diogenes of Sinope was a Greek Cynic philosopher.

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