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. He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, I am looking for a human. 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. Why, in life, should we be any less alone? Diogenesĭogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards. We come into the world alone and we die alone. 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.

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less. 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. It has the power to influence you, but not decide for you. It does not answer prayers, although it may make you think of a way to solve a problem. This force created nothing, it just helps things along. God is the word used to represent a force. Diogenesįools! You think of god as a sentient being. It takes a wise man to discover a wise man. The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. If he focusses on how it could have been worse, he will be happy. If he focusses on how it could have been better, he will be hurt. Literally by how he interprets what happens to him. In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit but his face. He has the most who is most content with the least. It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little. One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings. Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings? Diogenes If only it was as easy to banish hunger by rubbing the belly as it is to masturbate. Diogenes explained, I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave. Why was he so surprised? DiogenesĪlexander the Great found the philosopher looking attentively at a pile of human bones. It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours. People who talk well but do nothing are like musical instruments the sound is all they have to offer. If you’re searching for meaningful philosopher quotes that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of profound Epictetus quotes, amazing Epicurus quotes and top Friedrich Nietzsche quotes. Profoundly inspirational Diogenes quotes will encourage you to think a little deeper than you usually would and broaden your perspective. Diogenes, also known as Diogenes the Cynic, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy.

Diogenes quotes goodreads