Diogenes Quotes

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

I pissed on the man who called me a dog. Why was he so surprised?

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

To become self-educated you should condemn yourself for all those things that you would criticize others.

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

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.

Stand a little less between me and the sun.

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.

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

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.

Fools! You think of “god” as a sentient being. God is the word used to represent a force. This force created nothing, it just helps things along. It does not answer prayers, although it may make you think of a way to solve a problem. It has the power to influence you, but not decide for you.

Even if I am but a pretender to wisdom, that in itself is philosophy.

The great thieves lead away the little thief.

One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings

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

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