Diogenes of Sinope Cynic Maxims on Virtue and Fortune in Greek
The Cynic Maxims on Virtue and Fortune is a collection of philosophical sayings attributed to Diogenes of Sinope, the fourth-century BCE founder of the Cynic school. Preserved only in fragmentary excerpts within later works, these maxims distill the core Cynic ethical doctrine into concise, provocative statements. Written in Attic Greek and presented in a dialogic format, the text champions virtue as the sole good and advocates for a life of radical self-sufficiency achieved through rigorous ascetic training. It systematically rejects dependence on fortune, wealth, pleasure, and social status, portraying them as sources of enslavement. The maxims instruct the practitioner to find contentment in satisfying only basic natural needs, to endure physical hardship, and to cultivate a mental independence that renders external circumstances irrelevant. While no writings of Diogenes survive directly, this collection, likely compiled centuries after his death, represents a portable summation of his teachings intended to guide individuals toward a life of freedom and moral integrity.
| 3 | ΑΤΡΕΥΣ ΑΧΙΛΛΕΥΣ ΕΛΕΝΗ ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ ΘΥΕΣΤΗΣ ΜΗΔΕΙΑ ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ ΧΡΥΣΙΠΠΟΣ οἱ τῆς ἀνάνδρου καὶ διεσκατωμένης τρυφῆς ὑφ’ ἡδοναῖσι σαχθέντες κέαρ πονεῖν θέλοντες οὐδὲ βαιά –⏑– θέλω τύχης σταλαγμὸν ἢ φρενῶν πίθον, ἧς μὴ παρούσης δυστυχοῦσιν αἱ φρένες DUBIA |
| 7 | ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ· ὦ τλῆμον ἀρετή· λόγος ἄρ’ ἦσθ’, ἐγὼ δέ σε ὡς ἔργον ἤσκουν, σὺ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐδούλευες τύχῃ, ἀφεὶς τὴν πλουτοποιὸν ἀδικίαν καὶ τὴν γόνιμον ἁπάσης ἡδονῆς ἀκολασίαν ἄπολις, ἄοικος, πατρίδος ἐστερημένος, πτωχός, πλανήτης, βίον ἔχων ἐφήμερον ὅς με ῥάκη τ’ ἤμπισχε κἀξηνάγκασεν πτωχὸν γενέσθαι κἀκ δόμων ἀνάστατον ὅσοι δὲ φιλοσοφοῦντες ἐκμοχθοῦσί τι, ἐνταῦθ’ ὑπάρχει τῷ βίῳ γαστρὸς κρατεῖν· διδάσκαλος γὰρ ηὑτέλεια τῶν σοφῶν καὶ τῶν ἀρίστων γίγνεται βουλευμάτων ἐγὼ γάρ, εἰ νοῦν εἶχ’ ἔμ’ ὁ σπείρας πατήρ, ἠπιστάμην ἂν μουσικὴν παρεὶς πονεῖν, ὡς εὐτυχήσων καὶ κακῶς πράξων ποτέ. πρῶτον μέν, ἐξ ὧν πάντα γίγνεται βροτοῖς, εὔογκος εἶναι γαστρὶ μὴ πληρουμένῃ στέργειν θ’ ὑδρηροῖς ὥστε θὴρ ἀεὶ ποτοῖς, χειμῶνί τ’ ἀσκεῖν σῶμα θερμά θ’ ἡλίου τοξεύματ’ αἰνεῖν μὴ σκιατραφούμενος. νῦν δ’ οὐκ ἐθισθεὶς ταῦτ’ ἐπίσταμαι μὲν οὔ, φέρειν δ’ ἀνάγκη· τὸν γὰρ Ὀρφέα λαβών ἅπαν τε Μουσῶν ἐννεάφθογγον μέλος, οὐκ ἂν πίθοιμι γαστέρ’, ἀλλὰ δεῖ βίου |