The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Wisdom from the Early Cynics, Diogenes 34


Noticing a good-looking youth lying in an exposed position, Diogenes nudged him and cried, "Up, man, up, lest some foe thrust a dart into your back!" 

To one who was feasting lavishly he said: 

Short-liv'd thou'lt be, my son, by what thou buy'st."

As Plato was conversing about Ideas and using the nouns "tablehood" and "cuphood," Diogenes said, "Table and cup I see; but your tablehood and cuphood, Plato, I can nowise see." 

"That's readily accounted for," said Plato, "for you have the eyes to see the visible table and cup; but not the understanding by which ideal tablehood and cuphood are discerned." 

On being asked by somebody, "What sort of a man do you consider Diogenes to be?" 

"A Socrates gone mad," said Plato.

—Diogenes Laërtius, 6.53-54 



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