Diogenes Quotes

Inspiring Diogenes quotes from the Greek philosopher, one of the founders of the Cynic philosophy that stressed stoic self-sufficiency & rejection of luxury

In a rich man’s house there is no place to spit but his face.

Diogenes Quotes

There is only a finger’s difference between a wise man and a fool.
Diogenes Quotes

What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.
Diogenes Quotes

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.
Diogenes Quotes

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.
Diogenes Quotes

The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted. Diogenes
Diogenes Quotes

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.
Diogenes Quotes

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.
Diogenes Quotes

I am called a dog because I fawn on those who give me anything, I yelp at those who refuse, and I set my teeth in rascals.
Diogenes Quotes

Of what use is a philosopher who doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings?
Diogenes Quotes

Stand a little less between me and the sun.
Diogenes Quotes

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 Quotes

No man is hurt but by himself.
Diogenes Quotes

I have nothing to ask but that you would remove to the other side, that you may not, by intercepting the sunshine, take from me what you cannot give.
Diogenes Quotes

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.
Diogenes Quotes

When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all beings; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man.
Diogenes Quotes

The art of being a slave is to rule one’s master.
Diogenes Quotes

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?
Diogenes Quotes

Modesty is the color of virtue.
Diogenes Quotes

The great thieves lead away the little thief.
Diogenes Quotes

Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.
Diogenes Quotes

Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.
Diogenes Quotes

Most men are within a finger’s breadth of being mad
Diogenes Quotes

The mob is the mother of tyrants.
Diogenes Quotes

Man is the most intelligent of the animals – and the most silly.
Diogenes Quotes

A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.
Diogenes Quotes

I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.
Diogenes Quotes

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.
Diogenes Quotes

I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.
Diogenes Quotes

Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.
Diogenes Quotes

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

The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.
Diogenes Quotes

Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them.
Diogenes Quotes

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.
Diogenes Quotes