Diogenes of Sinope

In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.

What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.

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

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.

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

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.

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.

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

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

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

A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.

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.

No man is hurt but by himself.

Stand a little less between me and the sun.

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

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

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.

There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool.

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

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

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.

Modesty is the color of virtue.

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

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

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

He has the most who is most content with the least.

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

The great thieves lead away the little thief.

Blushing is the color of virtue.

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.

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