01c. 200 ADThe question was put to him, what hope is; and his answer was, "The dream of a waking man."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
02c. 200 ADHe used to say that personal beauty was a better introduction than any letter; but others say that it was Diogenes who gave this description of it, while Aristotle called beauty "the gift of God;" that Socrates called it "a short-lived tyranny;" Theophrastus, "a silent deceit;" Theocritus, "an ivory mischief;" Carneades, "a sovereignty which stood in need of no guards."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
03c. 200 ADOn one occasion Aristotle was asked how much educated men were superior to those uneducated: "As much," said he, "as the living are to the dead."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
04c. 200 ADIt was a saying of his that education was an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
05c. 200 ADHe was once asked what a friend is, and his answer was, "One soul abiding in two bodies."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
06c. 200 ADAsked what he gained from philosophy, he answered, "To do without being commanded what others do from fear of the laws."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
07c. 200 ADThe question was once put to him, how we ought to behave to our friends; and the answer he gave was, "As we should wish our friends to behave to us."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
08c. 200 ADHe used to define justice as "a virtue of the soul distributing that which each person deserved."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
09c. 200 ADAnother of his sayings was, that education was the best viaticum of old age.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
10c. 200 ADThe chief good he has defined to be the exercise of virtue in a perfect life.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
11c. 200 ADHe used to teach that God is incorporeal, as Plato also asserted, and that his providence extends over all the heavenly bodies.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
12c. 200 ADIt was a favourite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
13c. 200 ADAntisthenes used to say that envious people were devoured by their own disposition, just as iron is by rust.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
14c. 200 ADWhen he was praised by some wicked men, he said, "I am sadly afraid that I must have done some wicked thing."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
15c. 200 ADWhen asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, "Not to unlearn what you have learned."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
16c. 200 ADDiogenes would frequently praise those who were about to marry, and yet did not marry.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
17c. 200 AD"Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
18c. 200 ADOne of the sayings of Diogenes was that most men were within a finger's breadth of being mad; for if a man walked with his middle finger pointing out, folks would think him mad, but not so if it were his forefinger.Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
21c. 200 ADPlato having defined man to be a two-legged animal without feathers, Diogenes plucked a cock and brought it into the Academy, and said, "This is Plato's man." On which account this addition was made to the definition,—"With broad flat nails."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
22c. 200 ADA man once asked Diogenes what was the proper time for supper, and he made answer, "If you are a rich man, whenever you please; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
23c. 200 ADDiogenes lighted a candle in the daytime, and went round saying, "I am looking for a man."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
24c. 200 ADWhen asked what he would take to let a man give him a blow on the head, he said, "A helmet."Diogenes Laertius / quote ↗
