Diogenes Quotes
Diogenes was an ancient Greek philosopher known for living in voluntary poverty and saying exactly what he thought, no matter who was listening. His sharp, often provocative remarks challenged social norms and questioned what people truly need to live well.
These quotes make strong additions to philosophy essays, social media commentary, classroom discussions, or anywhere blunt honesty is welcome. Have a look through the collection.
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“In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.”
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“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”
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“The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.”
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“It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.”
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“Stand a little less between me and the sun.”
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“There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool.”
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“What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.”
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“We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.”
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“He has the most who is most content with the least.”
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“I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.”
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“Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?”
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“The mob is the mother of tyrants.”
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“Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?”
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“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.”
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“Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.”
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“Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.”
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“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.”
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“Calumny is only the noise of madmen.”
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“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.”
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“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.”
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“A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.”
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“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.”
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“Modesty is the color of virtue.”
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“The art of being a slave is to rule one's master.”
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“The great thieves lead away the little thief.”
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“I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.”
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“No man is hurt but by himself.”
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“Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.”
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“Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.”
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“It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.”
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“I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.”
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“The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.”
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“It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.”
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“Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them.”
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“I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.”
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“Blushing is the color of virtue.”