30 Diogenes Quotes Illuminating Life’s Philosophical Lessons
Discover Diogenes quotes that inspire and challenge us to embrace our true selves and live a meaningful life.
Diogenes(Diogenes the Cynic or Diogenes of Sinope) was an ancient Greek philosopher known for his unconventional and often controversial teachings.
As one of the founders of Cynicism, he lived a simple and ascetic lifestyle, rejecting material possessions and societal norms. Diogenes believed in living in accordance with nature and embracing virtue above all else.
Find valuable lessons for navigating the complexities of life and strive for personal growth and moral development.
Explore the world of Diogenes and his values of valuing virtue above all else, challenging social norms, and appreciating simplicity.
Diogenes Quotes
It takes a wise man to discover a wise man. – Diogenes
He has the most who is most content with the least. – Diogenes
The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. – Diogenes
The world prospers only when it’s kings philosophize and philosophers reign. – Diogenes
If a rich man, when you will; if a poor man, when you can. – Diogenes
Poverty is a self-taught virtue. – Diogenes
It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little. – Diogenes
One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings. – Diogenes
Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings? – Diogenes
It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours. – Diogenes
The first step to self-knowledge is self-distrust. Nor can we attain to any kind of knowledge, except by a like process. – Diogenes
People who talk well but do nothing are like musical instruments; the sound is all they have to offer. – Diogenes
I pissed on the man who called me a dog. Why was he so surprised? – Diogenes
One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings. – Diogenes
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. – Diogenes
In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit but his face. – Diogenes
Modesty is the color of virtue. – Diogenes
We come into the world alone and we die alone. Why, in life, should we be any less alone? – – Diogenes
Education gives sobriety to the young, comfort to the old, riches to the poor and is an ornament to the rich. – Diogenes
You will become a teacher of yourself when for the same things that you blame others, you also blame yourself. – Diogenes
Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one. – Diogenes
Self-taught poverty is a help toward philosophy, for the things which philosophy attempts to teach by reasoning, poverty forces us to practice. – Diogenes
The mob is the mother of tyrants. – Diogenes
It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend. – Diogenes
The noblest people are those despising wealth, learning, pleasure, and life; esteeming above them poverty, ignorance, hardship, and death. – Diogenes
We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less. – Diogenes
He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, I am looking for a human. – Diogenes
I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world. – Diogenes
Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain by it. Said he – That when they speak truth they are not believed. – Diogenes
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. – Diogenes
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