Diogenes of Sinope quotes

Asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world." (Diogenes of Sinope)
Being asked where in Greece he saw good men, he replied, "'Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta."
Diogenes of Sinope
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."
Diogenes of Sinope
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."
Diogenes of Sinope
Virtue cannot dwell with wealth either in a city or in a house.
Diogenes of Sinope
When the slave auctioneer asked in what he was proficient, he replied, "In ruling people."
Diogenes of Sinope
Self-taught poverty is a help toward philosophy, for the things which philosophy attempts to teach by reasoning, poverty forces us to practice.
Diogenes of Sinope
To Xeniades, who had purchased Diogenes at the slave market, he said, "Come, see that you obey orders."
Diogenes of Sinope
Boasting, like gilded armour, is very different inside from outside.
Diogenes of Sinope
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.
Diogenes of Sinope
It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours. (Diogenes of Sinope)
The noblest people are those despising wealth, learning, pleasure and life; esteeming above them poverty, ignorance, hardship and death.
Diogenes of Sinope
No man is hurt but by himself.
Diogenes of Sinope
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."
Diogenes of Sinope
Poverty is a virtue which one can teach oneself.
Diogenes of Sinope
He once begged alms of a statue, and, when asked why he did so, replied, "To get practice in being refused."
Diogenes of Sinope
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."
Diogenes of Sinope
He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, "I am looking for a human."
Diogenes of Sinope
To the question what wine he found pleasant to drink, he replied, "That for which other people pay."
Diogenes of Sinope
When Alexander the Great addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, Diogenes replied "Yes, stand a little out of my sunshine."
Diogenes of Sinope
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." (Diogenes of Sinope)
The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.
Diogenes of Sinope
He was seized and dragged off to King Philip, and being asked who he was, replied, "A spy upon your insatiable greed."
Diogenes of Sinope
When some one boasted that at the Pythian games he had vanquished men, Diogenes replied, "Nay, I defeat men, you defeat slaves."
Diogenes of Sinope
Aristotle dines when it seems good to King Philip, but Diogenes when he himself pleases.
Diogenes of Sinope