Diogenes was a leading Greek philosopher. He was a man of few needs. Power, status and riches did not appeal to him. He spent most of his time in acquiring knowledge or seeking the meaning of life. His life style was akin to that of the poor. He cooked his own food, kept his home set in the midst of trees and flowering shrubs, neat and clean. One day, he walked to the kitchen to cook dinner. He opened the pots and checked. There was nothing in all but one pot. He peered into the pot and found some lentils. "Ah!" his face brightened. "I will make lentil soup and dine in style," he told himself. He emptied the lentils on to a plate and moved to the backyard. The setting sun formed patterns of light and shade on the ground. Diogenes drew water from a well and started washing the lentils. "Where are you, my friend?" came a call. Diogenes looked up and saw his friend, Aristippus, a scholar who served at the court and lived in luxuries, walking in. "Welcome, my friend. How are you? Have not seen you for long. Why don't you join me for dinner? Then we will have time to discuss philosophy," Diogenes said, while rinsing the lentils in the water.
"What will you serve me?" The guest enquired. "Delicious lentil soup," Diogenes picked up a stone and threw it away. "Oh, no, thank you. I can't enjoy such a measly fare," Aristippus replied. Then he asked, "Tell me, why do you live in poverty? You are more intelligent, more well-informed and more scholarly than me. If you would only learn to flatter the king, you would not have to live on such poor food as lentils." Diogenes straightened himself up, gave the guest a look of contempt and commented, "If only you had learned to live on such food as lentils, you would not have to flatter the king." Aristippus had no reply to that.
Meaning: Money doesn't come for the asking. Often one has to adjust to the whims of one's superiors, to flatter them and to please them. In the process one ceases to be free.
Alternatives: No man is free unless he limits his wants. Freedom does not co-exist with material pursuits. Happy is he who is content.
"What will you serve me?" The guest enquired. "Delicious lentil soup," Diogenes picked up a stone and threw it away. "Oh, no, thank you. I can't enjoy such a measly fare," Aristippus replied. Then he asked, "Tell me, why do you live in poverty? You are more intelligent, more well-informed and more scholarly than me. If you would only learn to flatter the king, you would not have to live on such poor food as lentils." Diogenes straightened himself up, gave the guest a look of contempt and commented, "If only you had learned to live on such food as lentils, you would not have to flatter the king." Aristippus had no reply to that.
Meaning: Money doesn't come for the asking. Often one has to adjust to the whims of one's superiors, to flatter them and to please them. In the process one ceases to be free.
Alternatives: No man is free unless he limits his wants. Freedom does not co-exist with material pursuits. Happy is he who is content.
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