Diogenes of Sinope: Quotes about men

Diogenes of Sinope was ancient Greek philosopher, one of the founders of the Cynic philosophy. Explore interesting quotes on men.
Diogenes of Sinope: 66 quotes58 likes

“Being asked where in Greece he saw good men, he replied, "'Good men nowhere, but good boys at Sparta."”

Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 27
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius

“When some one boasted that at the Pythian games he had vanquished men, Diogenes replied, "Nay, I defeat men, you defeat slaves."”

Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 33, 43
Quoted by Diogenes Laërtius

“Diogenes the cynic, seeing one of the so-called freedmen pluming himself, while many heartily congratulated him, marveled at the absence of reason and discernment. “A man might as well,” he said, “proclaim that one of his servants became a grammarian, a geometrician, or musician, when he has no idea whatever of the art.” For as the proclamation cannot make them men of knowledge, so neither can it make them free.”

Diogenes of Sinope

Philo, Every Good Man is Free, F. Colson, trans. (1941), 157
Quoted by Philo