Cynic
Διογένης
c. 412 – 323 BCE · Sinope; lived in Athens and Corinth
Exiled from Sinope, Diogenes lived in Athens in deliberate poverty, reportedly sleeping in a large storage jar. Known through anecdotes collected centuries later, he used provocative acts and sharp wit to expose the emptiness of convention.
As Diogenes sunned himself, Alexander the Great came and stood over him, offering to grant any wish. Diogenes simply asked him to stand out of his light.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, VI.38
An anecdote recorded about five centuries after Diogenes lived; treat as tradition rather than verified history.
Seeing a child drink water from his cupped hands, Diogenes threw away his own cup, saying that a child had beaten him in plain living.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, VI.37
Anecdote from a late source; treat as tradition.
Diogenes lit a lamp in broad daylight and went about saying that he was looking for a human being.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives, VI.41
Paraphrase and reference awaiting verification against the source.
Anecdote from a late source; treat as tradition.
Asked where he came from, Diogenes replied: I am a citizen of the world.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives, VI.63
Paraphrase and reference awaiting verification against the source.
Anecdote from a late source; treat as tradition.
When Plato defined a human as a featherless two-legged animal, Diogenes plucked a chicken and brought it to the Academy: here is Plato’s human.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives, VI.40
Paraphrase and reference awaiting verification against the source.
Anecdote from a late source; treat as tradition.
Asked what was most beautiful in the world, Diogenes answered: frankness of speech.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives, VI.69
Paraphrase and reference awaiting verification against the source.
Anecdote from a late source.
Diogenes was seen begging from a statue; asked why, he said he was practising being refused.
Diogenes Laertius, Lives, VI.49
Paraphrase and reference awaiting verification against the source.
Anecdote from a late source.
Cynic (4th c. BCE onward). A radical simplicity that tested every convention against nature, living with as little as possible and speaking freely.