Quotes from Diogenes

The art of being a slave is to rule one's master.

Stand a little less between me and the sun.

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

Self-taught poverty is a help toward philosophy, for the things which philosophy attempts to teach by reasoning, poverty forces us to practice.

If you are to be kept right, you must possess either good friends or red-hot enemies. The one will warn you, the other will expose you.

The health and vigor necessary for the practice of what is good, depend equally on both mind and body.

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

One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings

Thales was asked what was most difficult to man he answered: "To know one's self."

The only good is knowledge and the only evil ignorance.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.

Blushing is the color of virtue.

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

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.

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

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.