The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Wisdom from the Early Cynics, Diogenes 15


To those who said to Diogenes, "You are an old man; take a rest," "What?" he replied, "If I were running in the stadium, ought I to slacken my pace when approaching the goal? Ought I not rather to put on speed?" 

Having been invited to a dinner, he declared that he wouldn't go; for, the last time he went, his host had not expressed a proper gratitude. 

He would walk upon snow barefoot and do the other things mentioned above. Not only so; he even attempted to eat meat raw, but could not manage to digest it. 

He once found Demosthenes the orator lunching at an inn, and, when he retired within, Diogenes said, "All the more you will be inside the tavern." 

When some strangers expressed a wish to see Demosthenes, he stretched out his middle finger and said, "There goes the demagogue of Athens." 

—Diogenes Laërtius, 6.34 



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