Diogenes the Cynic: Sayings and Anecdotes, With Other Popular Moralists

Review of "Diogenes the Cynic: Sayings and Anecdotes with other Popular Moralists (A new translation)," by Robin Hard. The Oxford World's Classics edition includes an introduction, textual notes, bibliography with explanatory notes, and indexes of names and themes. This edition "also covers Diogenes' immediate successors, such as Crates, his wife Hipparcha, and the witty moral preacher Bion." Diogenes the Cynic "modeled himself on the example of Hercules. He believed that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory. He used his simple lifestyle and behavior to criticize the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt society. He declared himself a cosmopolitan. There are many tales about him dogging Antisthenes' footsteps and becoming his faithful hound. Diogenes made a virtue of poverty. He begged for a living and slept in a large ceramic jar in the marketplace. He became notorious for his philosophical stunts such as carrying a lamp in the daytime, claiming to be looking for an honest man. He embarrassed Plato, disputed his interpretation of Socrates and sabotaged his lectures. Diogenes was also responsible for publicly mocking Alexander the Great. After being captured by pirates and sold into slavery, Diogenes eventually settled in Corinth. There he passed his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates, who taught it to Zeno of Citium, who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring schools of Greek philosophy. None of Diogenes' many writings has survived, but details of his life come in the form of anecdotes (chreia), especially from Diogenes Laërtius, in his book 'Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers.' All that is left is a number of anecdotes concerning his life and sayings attributed to him in a number of scattered classical sources." Compared to Socrates, Diogenes then is one of the unsung rarely remembered philosophers of Ancient Greece. "The people of Athens called Diogenes 'the Dog' because he made the ground his bed and would spend the night in the streets in front of doors; but Diogenes liked this nickname because he saw that it was appropriate to the way in which he conducted himself. For he knew, as Plato recounts about the nature of dogs, that it is their way love those whom they know and to fawn on them, whilst they growl at those they do not know, and that they distinguish enemies from friends, not because they have any knowledge of good and evil, but because they either know people or do not know them." Diogenes should be remembered and praised for all time. This edition makes it so. "He said that education is a source of self-control for the young, a consolation for the old, a treasure for the poor, and an adornment for the rich." Five stars!

The Oxford World Classics translation of the Cynic Diogenes’ “Sayings and Anecdotes,’ by Robin Hard was a fun and enlightening read. But it was a slow read with one finger always in the notes in order to appreciate the context of what Diogenes said and did. The notes, index of names and themes, and the “Notes on Ancient Sources” following the introduction were all excellent and most helpful. That being said, the sayings and anecdotes of Diogenes can be read and enjoyed without the additional study. From the book: “Seeing an old woman beautifying herself, he said, ‘If that’s for the living, you’re out of your wits, if it’s for the dead, don’t be too slow about it.’” Diogenes was a dog. I often found it necessary to slow my reading, to pause and consider how Diogenes’ philosophy applied (or not) to my own life and modernity in general. In addition to Diogenes, the book provided introductions to other philosophers of the doggish ilk: Crates, Bion, Antisthenes, Aristippos, Hegesias and Theodoros. Plato, Zeno and Aristotle also come and go. “Diogenes the Cynic: Sayings and Anecdotes” is a virtuous read. Prepare to disrobe, walk barefoot, eat lupins and lentils, and drink cheap wine.

-= When someone chided Diogenes on seeing him come out of a brothel, he said, "What's the matter then? Should I have been coming out of your house?" =- Diogenes' "Sayings and Anecdotes: With Other Popular Moralists" arrived yesterday. This is only just released by Oxford University Press. In a word - wonderful. This is in the "must have" category for all dogs. Virtually all of the original Cynic writings and records have been obliterated - all that remains are small seeds of anecdote and aphorism scattered to the winds. There has never been a systemic effort to collate all the fragments in the one place in a coherent manner. This book does exactly that - it has sifted through all available literature to date and extracted the verified seeds and catalogued them by context and history. It not only lists all of the surviving scraps, but also all of the variants that have mutated. Superb. In fact, if you are new to the enlightenment of Cynicism (which is antithetical to cynicism), this is probably the very best place to start.

This book is amazing. Albeit Diogenes was a nut there are some great pearls of wisdom written here. You will also find some things repeated (all in the same place don’t worry) because the book brings different sources and versions written about many of these sayings and stories. It’s well written. Good quality paper, highly recommended this for your shelf.

The first 40 or so pages are mostly the author talking about his own opinions and what not, which I really wish I didn't waste my time reading. Once you get past that, the book is solid and gives you what you want, sayings and anecdotes about Diogenes the Cynic.

So, I'm back in the dating pool after a decade of marriage thanks to this little gem. If You're looking to lose a couple hundred pounds, start by being more than honest with the wife. Quote Diogenes.

A classic. Excellent reading.

Very good value for money. One of the essential classics.

Hilarious. I love Diogenes. He is the ultimate hippie of Ancient Greece. Also, the book makes you think about property and how much we really need. Unfortunately, Diogenes' actual books, along with a lot of other books from that era, can't be found anymore, but this is the next best thing.