The 85 best famous phrases of Diogenes of Sinope

Also known as "Diogenes the Cynic" he was listed as a controversial character and extremely sincere that he was not afraid to expose the bad things in the world and applaud honesty for on top of everything. Furthermore, he was a man who showed everyone that luxury and wealth don't mean everything in life, but what we carry inside.

To be able to see a little more inside the life of this great philosopher, we bring the best quotes and phrases of Diogenes of Sinope.

• We recommend you read: "The 90 best phrases of Socrates"

Famous quotes of Diogenes of Sinope

With your thoughts we can learn that honesty and virtue is the greatest treasure anyone can have.

1. It is not the cage adjusted to the beast!

We cannot let anything imprison us.

2. Thales was asked what was most difficult for man and he answered: to know himself.

There is an irrational and innate fear of knowing how we really are.

3. The foundation of each state is the education of its youth.

The education of the youth population ensures the development of the future of a nation.

4. What good is a philosopher who does not hurt anyone's feelings?

Philosophers live to evaluate reality as it is. Without benefiting anyone.

5. Many people, few people.

Not all those who walk around you are beings of integrity.

6. Good men nowhere, but good boys in Sparta.

This refers to the ancient belief that Sparta only raised soldiers for war.

7. A man should live near his superiors as near fire: not so close that he burns, not so far that he freezes.

We must learn from those who know more than we do but without letting ourselves be trampled on by them.

8. It is better to console yourself than hang yourself.

Difficult moments require relief, but also strength to resolve them.

9. When we are young, the right time to get married has not yet come, and when we are old it has passed.

An interesting analogy about the ideal time for marriage.

10. They call me a dog because I flatter those who give me something, I yell at those who refuse and I dig my teeth into rascals.

Everyone will always find reasons to criticize you.

11. Other dogs only bite their enemies, while I also bite my friends in order to save them.

You always have to be honest with your friends, even if that makes them uncomfortable.

12. Silence is how you learn to hear; hearing is how you learn to speak; and then, by speaking, you learn to be silent.

You can't really hear anyone if you don't stop talking.

13. We must have good friends who teach us what is good; and wicked and cruel enemies that prevent us from doing wrong.

You have to learn both the good and bad deeds of people to follow (or not follow) their example and be better.

14. If only by rubbing my belly my hunger would be extinguished in such a docile way!

Criticism of politicians who do not care about the poverty situation of their people.

15. The insult dishonors the person who infers it, not the person who receives it.

The only person who looks bad when lying is the liar, because each time they distrust a little more.

16. Alexander the Great on the back of his enormous horse, made the following proposition; "You, Diogenes the Cynic, ask me for anything, be it riches or monuments, and I will grant it to you." To which Diogenes replied: "Stand back, you are covering the sun for me." Those who were with Alexander the Great began to laugh at Diogenes and tell him how could he not realize who was in front of him. Alexander silenced the mocking voices when he said that "if it were not Alexander I would like to be Diogenes."

An interesting phrase that shows us the importance of always standing up for ourselves without import our condition and maintain our esteem high even in front of those who believe top.

17. Young men should not marry yet, and old men should never marry at all.

Again, the philosopher winks at the inconvenience of marriage.

18. Since well-stocked houses with supplies are likely to be full of mice, the bodies of those who eat a lot are riddled with disease.

Even prosperous people are at risk of disease like any poor.

19. If I lack consciousness, why should I care what happens to me when I'm dead?

Here he shows us how unnecessary it is to worry about death.

20. An original thought is worth a thousand insignificant quotes.

An original thought is a sample of your ability and not of your talent to imitate.

21. Not being a slave to anyone or anything in the small universe where one finds his place

When we depend on someone, we lose our place in the world.

22. When I'm crazy, I play crazy.

Mix with others while still being yourself.

23. The big ones are like fire, to which it is advisable not to get too close or to go far from it.

Important people can be admired, but you also have to be careful with them.

24. Take a good look at who your enemy is, because if you have him for such and he is not, he may be your greatest enemy.

Sometimes our worst enemies are those who are close.

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

Nothing ties us to where we come from, especially if we don't have a chance to grow there.

26. He once begged a statue for alms and, when asked why he did it, he replied, "To practice rejection."

Prepare for rejection. So you will know how to move on.

27. In life it is necessary to provide oneself with reason or a halter.

Either we are thinking beings or we allow ourselves to be influenced by others.

28. When people laughed at him because he was walking backwards under the porch, he would say to them: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? who walk backwards the whole way of existence, and blame me for walking backwards the way of the ride?"

People will always criticize everyone who dares to defy the rules of society.

29. We have two ears and a single tongue so that we hear more and speak less.

Without a doubt, a great reflection that will always be valid.

30. The only way a man can preserve his freedom is to always be ready to die for it.

Only when he is in danger of being taken away do we fear losing our freedom.

31. To one who asked what was the right time to have lunch, he said: "If he is rich, whenever he wants; if he is poor, when he can "

Each one seizes opportunities in his own way depending on his situation.

32. Perdiccas threatened to kill him unless he approached him, "That is nothing wonderful," Diogenes said, "because a beetle or a tarantula would do the same."

It is important not to be intimidated, because fear is what feeds these types of people.

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

We must always surround ourselves with people who make us better and help us grow.

34. Do not wonder how I will survive without my slave, ask my slave how he will survive without me.

There are people who need more things than others.

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

A reflection on those who boast of only defeating those they consider weaker than themselves.

36. Culture is knowledge that one does not have to remember... it flows spontaneously.

Culture is part of who we are.

37. The more I know people, the more I love my dog.

Dogs are the most loyal creatures in the world.

38. Wisdom serves as a restraint to the youth, a comfort to the old, wealth to the poor, and an adornment to the rich.

Wisdom has a constant purpose for everyone.

39. He was having breakfast in the market square and passersby gathered around him with shouts of "dog". "You are the dogs," he yelled, "when you stare at me over breakfast."

There are those who enjoy the misfortunes of others, as if it were a spectacle.

40. Self-taught poverty is an aid to philosophy, because the things that philosophy tries to teach by reasoning, poverty forces us to practice.

Poverty forces us to take action and never remain static.

41. Living is not bad, but bad living.

Living in an unsatisfactory and unhappy way is the worst punishment of all. .

42. Cheer up! This is the color of virtue!

Encouragement makes beings see the world in a more positive way.

43. Why not punish the teacher when the student misbehaves?

Teachers are responsible for teaching favorable behaviors for their students as well.

44. A minister of the emperor passed by and said to Diogenes: Oh, Diogenes! If you learned to be more submissive and to flatter the emperor more, you wouldn't have to eat so many lentils. Diogenes replied: If you learned to eat lentils you would not have to be submissive and flatter the emperor so much.

Not always being on the side of the rulers makes you a better person.

45. The most dangerous bites are those of the slanderer among wild animals and those of the flatterer among domestic animals.

Not everyone who accompanies you is your friend, because he may be waiting for the perfect opportunity to defame you.

46. The company of crows is preferable to that of flatterers, for the former devour the dead and the latter the living.

There are those who cannot bear the lifestyle that someone around them has if they do not have it themselves.

47. When someone asked him how he could become famous, Diogenes replied: Caring as little as possible about fame.

People who pursue fame may have a fate that they later regret.

48. May all trees bring this fruit.

Reflection on obtaining good things in the places we seek.

49. Virtue cannot dwell with wealth neither in a city nor in a house.

According to the philosopher, wealthy people cannot have virtue because they do not really experience the difficulties of life.

50. It's not that I'm crazy, it's just that my head is different from yours.

A constant discrimination suffered by those who think differently than how they should really do according to society.

51. I'd rather have nothing but lick salt in Athens, than dine like a prince at Crateros's table.

Sometimes flashy opportunities come with convictions.

52. There is no stick hard enough to keep me away from you, as long as I think you have something to say.

If you think someone deserves to be heard, then listen to them no matter what.

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

Could it be that we all have the ability to be good and honest?

54. The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance.

It will never be a waste to learn something else, but it is when we refuse to learn.

55. When the slave auctioneer asked him what he was competent in, he replied, "In ruling the people."

There are wicked people who disguise themselves as rulers just for the pleasure of subjugating others.

56. Once observing a child who drank with his hands, he threw the bowl that he carried in his saddlebag, saying: "A child surpassed me in simplicity."

Children have great lessons to teach us about humility.

57. Envy is caused by seeing another enjoy what we want; jealousy, to see another possess what we would like to possess ourselves.

Nothing describes these negative feelings better.

58. He would go to a theater, he would come face to face with those who came out and they would ask him why, "this," he said, "is what I practice doing all my life."

If you are good at something, then brace yourself until you can make a living from it.

59. Love comes hungry.

No one lives alone on love.

60. When I arrived in Athens, I wanted to be a disciple of Antisthenes, but I was rejected.

This shows us that even if we have a failure, we cannot let ourselves be defeated.

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

Perhaps because that way we are not disappointed by what is around us.

62. Poverty is a virtue that you can teach yourself.

We don't need much to learn from poverty, just surround ourselves with it.

63. Donkeys will probably laugh at you, but you don't care. Thus, I do not care that others laugh at me.

Learn to laugh at yourself so you won't care what other people think.

64. To Jeniades, who had bought Diogenes at the slave market, he said, "Come, make sure you obey orders."

Slavers believe that they can change a person's entire being.

65. I am looking for an honest man.

How difficult is it to find an honest man?

66. For months I have seen armies go by. Where are they going, and for what?

Does an army really have a valid purpose of its own?

67. No man is hurt but alone.

The greatest hurts are those made in solitude.

68. Why do people give money to beggars and not to philosophers?

Many will think that philosophers don't need money, but we all do.

69. Are you crazy. I am resting now. I did not conquer the world and I do not see the need to do so.

The people who enjoy true peace are those who do not have the need to dominate anything.

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

All the excuses to fall and stay in lust.

71. Movement is demonstrated by walking.

Only actions show progress.

72. He was captured and dragged to King Philip, and when asked who he was, he replied, "A spy of your insatiable greed."

Monsters are the only ones capable of spawning more monsters.

73. Everything is achieved with work, even virtue.

Good things are the result of effort. They do not come by themselves.

74. Praise in one's own mouth displeases anyone.

Self-centered people always run the risk of ending up alone.

75. Because they think that, one day, they may become invalid or blind, but philosophers, never.

Few people have a real ambition to know and criticize the world around us.

76. The best things are sold for very little price and vice versa.

Not all expensive things are actually beneficial.

77. When asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world."

Diogenes did not consider himself tied to any country.

78. Move to the right, you're blocking the sun from me. That's all I need.

Greed only brings more emptiness.

79. Let's not unlearn what we have already learned.

Learn things that you will make the most of, not those that are imposed with obligation.

80. In the house of a rich man there is no place to spit other than his face.

Rich people should not be without criticism.

81. The wicked obey their passions, as slaves obey their owners.

People with evil are guided by their dark desires.

82. He was asked the question of what hope is; and his answer was: "The dream of a waking man."

Hope is what motivates us to grow.

83. The gods don't need anything; those who resemble gods, few things.

Do you think a god has everything?

84. Why don't you rest now if that's what you want? Then you will die. We all die in the middle of the journey.

You have to learn to relax and enjoy life, because there will be no other time to do it.

85. Slander is just the noise of madmen.

Slanderers only act depending on their level of envy.