DIogenes the Cynic, a famous philosopher, was the son
of a banker of Sinope, in Pontus. Being banished with his
father for coining false money, he retired to Athens, where
he studied philosophy under Antisthenes. He added new
austerity to the sect of the Cynics, and never did any phi-
losopher carry so far a contempt for the conveniences of
life. He was one of those men who push every thing to
excess, without excepting even reason itself; and who con-
firm the saying, that there is no great genius without a tin-
ture of madness. He lodged in a tub; and had no other
moveables besides his staff, wallet, and wooden bowl, which
last he threw away on seeing a boy drink out of the hollow
of his hand. He used to call himself a vagabond, who had
neither house, home, nor country; he was obliged to beg,
was ill clothed, and lived from hand to mouth, and yet, says
Ælian, he took as much pride in these things as Alexander
could in the conquest of the world. He was not indeed a
jot more humble than those who are clothed in rich ap-
parel, and fare sumptuously every day. He looked down
on all the rest of the world with scorn; he magisterially
censured all mankind, and thought himself unquestionably
superior to all other philosophers. Alexander one day paid
him a visit, and made him an offer of riches, or any thing
else; but all that the philosopher requested of him was, to
stand from betwixt him and the sun. The conqueror was
so affected with the vigour and elevation of his soul, as to
declare that, "if he were not Alexander, he would choose
to be Diogenes;" that is, if he were not in possession of all
that was pompous and splendid in life, he would, like Dio-
genes, heroically despise it. Diogenes had great presence
of mind, as appears from his sharp sayings and quick repar-
tees; and Plato seems to have hit off his true character
when he called him a Socrates run mad. He spent a
great part of his life at Corinth. The reason of his living
there was curious and characteristic. As he was going over
to the island Ægina, he was taken by pirates, who carried
him into Crete, and there exposed him to sale. He answer-
ed the crier, who asked him what he could do, that "he
knew how to command men;" and perceiving a Corinthian
who was passing by, he showed him to the crier, and said,
"Sell me to that gentleman, for he wants a master." Xeni-
ades, for that was the Corinthian's name, bought Diogenes,
and carried him to Corinth, where he appointed him tutor
to his children, and intrusted him also with the manage-
ment of his house. Diogenes's friends being desirous to
redeem him, "You are fools," said he; "the lions are not
the slaves of those who feed them, but they are the ser-
vants of the lions." He therefore plainly told Xeniades
that he ought to obey him, as people obey their governors
and physicians. Some say that Diogenes spent the re-
mainder of his life in Xeniades's family; but Dion Chrys-
stom asserts that he passed the winter at Athens and
the summer at Corinth. He died at Corinth when he was
about ninety years old; but authors are not agreed either
as to the time or the manner of his death. The following
account, Jerome says, is the true one. As he was going to
the Olympic games, a fever seized him by the way; upon
which he lay down under a tree, and refused the assist-
ance of those who accompanied him, and who offered him
either a horse or a chariot. "Go you to the games," said
he, "and leave me to contend with my illness. If I con-
quer, I will follow you; if I am conquered, I shall go to
the shades below." He dispatched himself that very
night; saying, that "he did not so properly die, as get rid
of his fever." He had for his disciples Onesicritus, Pho-
cion, Stilpo of Megara, and several other great men. His
works are lost.