Diogenes and Alexander the Great

Diogenes was an ancient Greek Cynic philosopher. Some scholars have suggested that Cynical philosophy influenced the area around Palestine and Galilee at the time of Jesus' mission and that his teaching may have had this Hellenistic echo from the Cynics. The term cynic, as we understand that today, has a different connotation than that of ancient Greeks. The Cynics were so named because they were described as "kynikos" or dog-like by the citizens of Greece. They lived on the streets and embraced voluntary poverty as a means to access wisdom. They actually believed that the goal of life was human flourishing by living a life based on reason.

Diogenes was one of the most famous of the Cynic philosophers and the relevance for this season is his indifference to possessions. A humorous anecdote drives home the lesson and is instructive for us today as we are surrounded by consumerism of all kinds and people, including adults, ask "was Santa good to you" (sigh).

H/T Diogenes and Alexander the Great

Diogenes was a strange man. He said that no man needed much, and so he did not live in a house but slept in a barrel, which he rolled about from place to place. He spent his days sitting in the sun and saying wise things to those who were around him.

When Alexander the Great came to that town he went to see the wise man. He found Diogenes outside the town lying on the ground by his barrel. He was enjoying the sun.

When he saw the king he sat up and looked at Alexander. Alexander greeted him and said:

"Diogenes, I have heard a great deal about you. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," said Diogenes, "you can step aside a little so as not to keep the sunshine from me."

The king was very much surprised. But this answer did not make him angry. He turned to his officers with the following words:

"Say what you like, but if I were not Alexander, I should like to be Diogenes."