Diogenes

I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.

Wise kings generally have wise counselors and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.

The art of being a slave is to rule one's master.

What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.

As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task.

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all beings; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man.

The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.

Thales was asked what was most difficult to man he answered: "To know one's self."

Of a rich man who was mean and niggardly he said "That man does hot possess his estate but his estate possesses him."

The only good is knowledge and the only evil ignorance.

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.

We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less.