The Tub of Diogenes

Diogenes, a famous Greek philosopher, was born in Asia Minor, 412 B.C.

When he first visited Athens, he went to Antisthenes, the founder of a society of philosophers called "Cynics" (from a Greek word meaning "like a dog"), because they were a rude, snarling sect, who despised riches, the arts, and all the aestheticism of life.

Antisthenes tried to drive him away, and even threatened to beat him. "Strike me," said Diogenes, "but you will never get so hard a stick as to keep me from you while you speak what I think worth hearing."

Diogenes dressed in a coarse robe, which was his cloak by day and his cover by night, and carried with him a wooden bowl and a bag in which to receive alms and food.

One day he saw a boy drinking water from the hollow of his hand; and, thinking that he could do likewise, he threw his bowl away as a useless luxury. He accustomed himself to endure all kinds of hardships; and, in order to be able to bear both heat and cold, he rolled himself in the hot sand in summer, and in winter embraced statues covered with snow.

His home was a large tub discarded from the Temple of Cybele.

This tub, or pithos, was a huge earthen jar that had been used for holding wine or oil, for the sacrifices of the temple.

It was long and large enough for him to lie in at full length, and to satisfy his limited demands in the way of housekeeping, though cracked and patched. This whim of Diogenes was not without parallel, as it is said, that, during the Peloponnesian war, the Athenians lived in similar vessels; and even after the time of Diogenes such vessels, when discarded, were used as dwellings by the poor.

One day Alexander the Great saw Diogenes sitting in his tub in the sunshine.

The king, surrounded by his courtiers, approached him, and said, "I am Alexander the Great." The philosopher replied in a surly way, "I am Diogenes the Cynic." Alexander asked him if he could do him any service. "Yes," said Diogenes: "don't stand between me and the sun."

Surprised at this reply, Alexander said, "If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

Diogenes used often to walk out in the daytime with a lighted lantern, peering around as if looking for something; and when questioned, he would answer gravely, "I am searching for an honest man."

He was once taken by pirates, and offered for sale as a slave in the market in Crete; and, being asked by some one what he could do, he replied, "I can govern men; therefore sell me to some one who needs a master."

He died at Corinth 323 B.C., aged eighty-nine years.

It may be that the story of Diogenes has been somewhat factitiously dressed in the later history; but, even if this be so, the lessons it teaches are of great value, and have a thought for us, too, in this latest age of history, when there is so much prodigality and pride in living, so little of the true philosophy of life, and so much dishonesty in public service and private business.