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