Alexander and Diogenes

Everyone bowed before Alexander and looked at him with awe and respect as he made his triumphant journey through Greece—everyone except the wise Diogenes.

Diogenes belonged to a group of philosophers called Cynics, which means "doglike," because they did not care for the usual comforts of life. It is said that Diogenes, the most famous of these philosophers, made his home in a large earthenware tub near the Temple of Ceres. He wore a rough woolen cloak, summer and winter, as his only garment, and ate all his food raw. His only utensil was a wooden bowl from which he drank.

One day, however, he saw a child drinking from the hollow of its hand. Diogenes immediately threw away his bowl, saying he could do without luxury as well as the child. From then on, he drank from his hand.

As you can see, Diogenes was a very strange man. He prided himself on always telling the truth and treating all men alike. Some of his disciples once met him wandering through the streets with a lantern, anxiously peering into every corner and staring at everyone he met. When asked what he was looking for so carefully yet without much hope, he bluntly answered, "An honest man."

Alexander had heard about this odd philosopher and was eager to see him. So he went to the Temple of Ceres, escorted by all his courtiers, specifically to visit him. Diogenes was lying on the ground in front of his tub, warming himself in the sun.

Alexander approached and stood between the philosopher and the sun, trying to start a conversation. But Diogenes gave surly answers and paid little attention to his visitor.

Finally, the young king proudly said, "I am Alexander the King!"

"And I," replied the philosopher in the same tone, "am Diogenes the Cynic!"

Since he could get only short or rude answers, Alexander was about to leave. But first he asked the sage if there was anything he could do for him. "Yes," snapped Diogenes. "Stand out of my sunshine!"

The courtiers were shocked by this insolent behavior and began speaking scornfully of the philosopher as they walked away. Alexander overheard them and stopped them by saying, "If I were not Alexander, I would like to be Diogenes."

With this remark, he wanted them to understand that if he could not be master of all earthly things, he would rather despise them.

Strange to say, Alexander the King and Diogenes the Cynic died on the same night and from the same cause. Diogenes died in his tub after a too plentiful supper of raw ox leg, while Alexander breathed his last in a Babylonian palace after eating and drinking too much at a rich banquet.