• wozomo@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    120
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Supposedly Alexander the Great went to visit Diogenes in a suburb of Corinth to see what his deal was. When Alexander asked if Diogenes wanted anything from him, Diogenes reported replied “yes, move, you’re blocking the sun.”

    Afterwards, Alexander was so amused and impressed that he’s quoted as saying “it I were not Alexander, I wish I were Diogenes.”

    Fucking awesome.

    • m0darn@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      95
      ·
      1 year ago

      I seem to recall Diogenes replied:

      Likewise: if I were not Diogenes I too would wish I were Diogenes

      I mean it’s all probably made up but what a guy.

      • Cannibal_MoshpitV3@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        22
        ·
        1 year ago

        Diogenes didn’t exactly tell him to fuck off, it was more that he made a request for him to move over as if Alexander was literally any other man on Earth. An equal. Which arguably is more insulting as I’m sure Alexander’s enemies often told him to fuck off, but this was the first time he was requested to stand aside by a dude known to publically masturbate.

        Later, Alexander found Diogenes picking at the bones of a long dead servant, and when Alexander inquired as to what Diogenes was doing, Diogenes replied that he was trying find the difference between these bones and the bones of Alexander’s father. Zero fucks given because in the end we are all bones.