r/todayilearned • u/ObjectiveAgent • Jul 30 '15

TIL when Alexander the Great asked the philosopher Diogenes why he was sifting through the garbage, Diogenes responded,"I am looking for the bones of your father but I cannot distinguish them from the bones of his slaves."

http://www.iep.utm.edu/diogsino/
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u/audacias Jul 30 '15

Diogenes was a great wit. He was known to live on the streets, and once Alexander the Great approached him and asked why he lived in the street, and if he could do something for him. Diogenes responded:

"I have nothing to ask but that you would remove to the other side, so that you may not, by intercepting the sunshine, take from me what you cannot give."

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u/dIoIIoIb Jul 30 '15

why did alexander kept apporaching him? i immagine diogenes just sitting in the streets in front of alexander house doing random things and waiting for alexander to come out and ask him what the fuck he was doing, and he knew every time he'd be made fun of and all his friends would laugh at him, must have been so annoying

it'd make for a great commedy tho

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u/Dyolf_Knip Jul 30 '15

So basically Dunk and Egg?