The Cynic Ideal
Strip life down to nature, scorn convention, and be free — the radical self-sufficiency of the philosopher in the barrel.
The Cynic ideal is a life lived 'according to nature' through rigorous self-discipline (askēsis), rejecting wealth, status, and social convention in favor of total self-sufficiency and frank, often shameless, honesty. Its iconic figure is Diogenes of Sinope (4th century BCE), who reputedly lived in a jar and mocked Alexander the Great; the school traces back to Antisthenes, a follower of Socrates. Cynic toughness and the call to 'live according to nature' deeply shaped the Stoics who came after.
How it traveled
- CyropaediaAthens · -354applies
- Constitution of the LacedaimoniansAthens · -354explains
- Tusculanae DisputationesFormiae · -43explains
- DiscoursesNicopolis · 108explains
- Apophthegmata LaconicaChaeronea · 120explains
- LycurgusChaeronea · 120explains
- AlexanderChaeronea · 120explains
- Quaestiones ConvivalesChaeronea · 120explains
- Dialogi mortuorumSamosata · 180explains
- De Morte PeregriniSamosata · 180explains
- DemonaxSamosata · 180explains
- PiscatorSamosata · 180explains
- FugitiviSamosata · 180explains
- Vitarum auctioSamosata · 180explains
- Pyrrhoniae HypotyposesAlexandria · 210explains
- DeipnosophistaeNaucratis · 230explains
- Vitae philosophorum— · 240explains
- Duties of the HeartZaragoza (Saragossa) · 1080
- Epistulae—explains
- OrationesPrusaexplains
- Epistulae—explains
- Cynicus—explains
- To the Uneducated CynicsConstantinople (Istanbul)explains
- To the Cynic HeracleiosConstantinople (Istanbul)explains
- Varia HistoriaRomeexplains
- Quod Omnis Probus Liber Sit—explains
- Epistulae—explains
- Suidae lexicon—explains
- DialexeisTyreexplains
- Historia Religiosa—explains
- Historia RomanaRomeexplains
- Stromata—explains
- De Tranquilitate Animi—explains
- Fragmenta MoraliaAthensexplains
- FloridaCarthageexplains
Key passages(20)
וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב אֶל יִצְחָק וגו' הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב (בראשית כז, כב), הָא קוֹל דְּקָל חַכִּים וְיָדַיָּה דְּמַשְׁלַחִין מִיתִין. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב, אֵין יַעֲקֹב שׁוֹלֵט אֶלָּא בְּקו
Tap to expand
[ה] ר' אבא בר כהנא פתח מי האיש החכם ויבן את זאת ואשר דבר פי י"י אליו ויגידה על מה אבדה הארץ וג' (ירמיה ט:יא). תני ר' שמע' בן יוחי אם ראיתה עיירות נתלשות ממקומן בארץ ישר', דע שלא החזיקו בשכר סופרים ובש
Tap to expand
Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius
Through watching a mouse running about, says Theophrastus in the Megarian dialogue, not looking for a place to lie down in, not afraid of the dark, not seeking any of the things which are considered t
Tap to expand
Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius
When some one reproached him with his exile, his reply was, Nay, it was through that, you miserable fellow, that I came to be a philosopher. Again, when some one reminded him that the people of Sinope
Tap to expand
Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius
Being reproached for eating in the market-place, Well, it was in the market-place, he said, that I felt hungry. Some authors affirm that the following also belongs to him: that Plato saw him washing l
Tap to expand
Vitae philosophorum · Diogenes Laertius
So they get rid of geometry and music and all such studies. Anyhow, when somebody showed Diogenes a clock, he pronounced it a serviceable instrument to save one from being late for dinner. Again, to a
Tap to expand
Epistulae · Diogenes Sinopensis Epistulae
Epistulae · Diogenes Sinopensis Epistulae
Epistulae · Diogenes Sinopensis Epistulae
Epistulae · Diogenes Sinopensis Epistulae
In the first place, in the things which relate to yourself, you must not be in any respect like what you do now; you must not blame God or man; you must take away desire altogether, you must transfer
Tap to expand
Then, if he is thus prepared, the true Cynic cannot be satisfied with this; but he must know that he is sent a messenger from Zeus to men about good and bad things, to show them that they have wandere
Tap to expand
Diogenes, who was sent as a scout before you, made a different report to us. He says that death is no evil, for neither is it base; he says that fame (reputation) is the noise of madmen. And what has
Tap to expand
To the Cynic Heracleios · Julian, Emperor of Rome
To the Uneducated Cynics · Julian, Emperor of Rome
To the Uneducated Cynics · Julian, Emperor of Rome
To the Uneducated Cynics · Julian, Emperor of Rome
CYNIC The traits that you should possess in particular are these: you should be impudent and bold, and should abuse all and each, both kings and commoners, for thus they will admire you and think you
Tap to expand