"Diogenes the cynic, seeing one of the so-called freedmen pluming himself, while many heartily congratulated him, marveled at the absence of reason and discernment. “A man might as well,” he said, “proclaim that one of his servants became a grammarian, a geometrician, or musician, when he has no idea whatever of the art.” For as the proclamation cannot make them men of knowledge, so neither can it make them free."

“Boasting, like gilded armour, is very different inside from outside.”

“He used to reason as follows: 'Everything belongs to the gods; the wise are friends of the gods; friends hold all things in common; ergo, everything belongs to the wise.'”

“He was seized and dragged off to King Philip, and being asked who he was, replied, "A spy upon your insatiable greed.”

“Perdiccas threatened to put him to death unless he came to him, "That's nothing wonderful," Diogenes said, "for a beetle or a tarantula would do the same.”

“Thieves and fighters do not come from eaters of barley-bread; but informers and tyrants come from meat-eaters.”

“When scolded for masturbating in public, he said "I wish it were as easy to banish hunger by rubbing my belly.”