80 Best Diogenes Quotes on Philosophy and Life

1. The foundation of each state is the education of its youth. ~ Diogenes

2. They call me a dog because I flatter those who give me something, I shout at those who refuse and I sink my teeth into rascals. ~ Diogenes

3. The sun also penetrates the toilets, but is not contaminated by them. ~ Diogenes

4. I don’t know if there are gods, but there should be. ~ Diogenes

5. The art of being a slave is ruling the master. ~ Diogenes

6. Life has three types of grapes: the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of disgust. ~ Diogenes

7. Why not spank the teacher when the student misbehaves? ~ Diogenes

8. Dogs and Philosophers do the most good and get the fewest rewards. ~ Diogenes

9. Most men are one finger away from being crazy. ~ Diogenes

10. In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit except in his face. ~ Diogenes

11. It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of divine men to want little. ~ Diogenes

12. I have nothing to ask of you, except that you would take yourself to the other side, so that by intercepting the sunlight, you cannot take from me what you cannot give. ~ Diogenes

13. What good is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings? ~ Diogenes

14. What I like to drink the most is wine that belongs to others. ~ Diogenes

15. Wise kings usually have wise advisers; and he himself must be a wise man able to distinguish one. ~ Diogenes

16. A friend is a soul that remains in two bodies. ~ Diogenes

17. The big thieves take the little thief. ~ Diogenes

18. There is only a finger difference between a wise man and a fool. ~ Diogenes

19. If only belly rubbing was as easy to eliminate hunger as it was to masturbate. ~ Diogenes

20. Stand a little less between me and the sun. ~ Diogenes

21. It’s not that I’m angry, it’s just that my head is different from yours. ~ Diogenes

22. Man is the most intelligent of animals, and the dumbest. ~ Diogenes

23. I am neither an Athenian nor a Greek, but a citizen of the world. ~ Diogenes

24. Those who always have virtue in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a pleasant sound to others, while it is insensitive to music. ~ Diogenes

25. It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing a man could spend. ~ Diogenes

26. We have two ears and one tongue so we can listen more and talk less. ~ Diogenes

27. When the slave auctioneer asked him what he was competent in, he replied: In the ruling people. ~ Diogenes

28. One should seek virtue for oneself, without being influenced by fear or hope, or by any external influence. Besides, that’s what happiness is all about. ~ Diogenes

29. I dropped my cup when I saw a boy drinking with his hands in the fountain. ~ Diogenes

30. The ability in man is an apt good, if it is applied to good ends. ~ Diogenes

31. The mafia is the mother of tyrants. ~ Diogenes

32. Blush is the color of virtue. ~ Diogenes

33. Solon used to say that speech was the image of actions; …that the laws were like cobwebs, because if something insignificant or powerless fell into them, they kept it firm; whereas if it were something heavier, he would go through them and go out. ~ Diogenes

34. Boasting, like golden armor, is very different on the inside than it is on the outside. ~ Diogenes

35. The noblest people are those who despise wealth, learning, pleasure and life; estimating above them poverty, ignorance, difficulties and death. ~ Diogenes

36. Aren’t you ashamed, you who walk backwards all the way of existence, and blame me for walking backwards along the path of the boardwalk? ~ Diogenes

37. Aristotle dines when he pleases King Philip, but Diogenes when he himself wants. ~ Diogenes

38. The one who has more is the one who is happy with less. ~ Diogenes

39. Fools! You think of “god” as a sentient being. God is the word used to represent a force. This force did not create anything, it only helps things. He doesn’t answer sentences, although he can make you think of a way to solve a problem. He has the power to influence you, but not decide for you. ~ Diogenes

40. The health and vigor necessary for the practice of what is good depend equally on the mind and the body. ~ Diogenes

41. There is a false love that will make you something that you are not. ~ Diogenes

42. If your cape was a gift, I thank you; If it was a loan, I’m not done yet. ~ Diogenes

43. He was having breakfast in the market, and the spectators gathered around him with cries of “dog”. It’s you who are dogs, he yelled, when you stand and watch me eat breakfast. ~ Diogenes

44. Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain. He said: that when they tell the truth, they are not believed. ~ Diogenes

45. The main good is the suspension of judgment [especially negative judgment], which tranquility of mind follows as its shadow. ~ Diogenes

46. When someone boasted that in the Pythian games he had beaten men, Diogenes replied: No, I defeat men, you defeat slaves. ~ Diogenes

47. I am looking for a human. ~ Diogenes

48. To be self-taught you must condemn yourself for all those things that you would criticize others. ~ Diogenes

49. All things are common between friends. ~ Diogenes

50. Nothing can be produced from nothing. ~ Diogenes

51. Antisthenes used to say that envious people were devoured by their own disposition, just like iron by rust. The envy of others comes from comparing what they have to what the envious person has, rather than the envious person realizing that they have more than they could have and certainly more than others and being grateful. It’s really an inability to get a proper perspective on their lives. ~ Diogenes

52. Even if I am only a pretender to wisdom, that in itself is philosophy. ~ Diogenes

53. We have complicated every simple gift from the gods. ~ Diogenes

54. When someone reminded him that the people of Sinope had sentenced him to exile, he said: And I sentenced them to stay at home. ~ Diogenes

55. We come into the world alone and we die alone. Why, in life, should we be less alone? ~ Diogenes

56. The most beautiful thing in the world is freedom of expression. ~ Diogenes

57. Protagoras claimed that there are two sides to every question, exactly opposite each other. ~ Diogenes

58. he Once he asked a statue for alms and, when asked why he did it, he replied: Have practice in being rejected. ~ Diogenes

59. Let’s not unlearn what we have already learned. ~ Diogenes

60. No man is hurt but alone. ~ Diogenes

61. Slander is just the noise of madmen. ~ Diogenes

62. Lust is a strong tower of mischief, and it has many defenders, such as need, anger, paleness, discord, love, and longing. ~ Diogenes

63. We are more curious about the meaning of dreams than about the things we see when we are awake. ~ Diogenes

64. The only way to get really irritated and worried is to be a good and honest man. ~ Diogenes

65. An original thought is worth a thousand nonsense quotes. ~ Diogenes

66. Poverty is a virtue that you can teach yourself. ~ Diogenes

67. When someone asked him how he could become famous, Diogenes replied: By caring as little as possible about fame. ~ Diogenes

68. Perdiccas threatened to kill him unless he came near, “That’s not wonderful,” said Diogenes, “because a beetle or a tarantula would do the same.” ~ Diogenes

69. As well-stocked houses with provisions are likely to be full of mice, the bodies of those who eat a lot are full of disease. ~ Diogenes

70. If I lack conscience, why should I care what happens to me when I’m dead? ~ Diogenes

71. Good men nowhere, but good boys in Sparta. ~ Diogenes

72. When asked what was the right time for dinner: if you are a rich man, whenever you want; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can. ~ Diogenes

73. He was asked the question of what is hope; and his answer was: “A waking man’s dream.” ~ Diogenes

74. He was captured and dragged to King Philip, and when asked who he was, he replied: “A spy for your insatiable greed. ~ Diogenes

75. Love comes hungry. ~ Diogenes

76. Virtue cannot dwell with wealth, neither in a city nor in a house. ~ Diogenes

77. Self-taught poverty is a help towards philosophy, because the things that philosophy tries to teach through reasoning, poverty forces us to practice. ~ Diogenes

78. If you want to stay well, you must have good friends or hot enemies. One will warn you, the other will expose you. ~ Diogenes

79. Other dogs bite only their enemies, while I also bite my friends to save them. ~ Diogenes