Diogenes of Sinope, also known as Diogenes the Cynic, or Diogenes the dog, fully identified with dogs and said, “Other dogs only bite their enemies, while I also bite my friends in order to save them.” The same concept that Nietzsche expressed in the sentence, “May your friend also be your worst enemy.” The enemy is the other one that I bite by telling him some uncomfortable truths or by fucking him in order to awaken his conscience. When they come looking for him at Diogenes because they want to pay homage to a very important philosopher, he replies: “Why are you going to pay homage to someone who never made anyone sad?”
It’s in sadness, discomfort, or annoyance that you realize things you’re not doing so well, and when you become aware, that’s when you can change.
When Alexander the Great visited Athens, he learned of the existence and wisdom of Diogenes. He wanted to meet him. As he approached his pitcher, Diogenes was engrossed in his thoughts sunbathing. Alexander the Great stood before him and said, “I am Alexander,” to which Diogenes replied, “And I Diogenes the dog.” No one would have dared to speak thus to a king. Fascinated by Diogenes’ character, he said, “Ask me whatever you want,” and Diogenes, unmoved, replied, “Yes, stand out of my sunlight”.
There is talk today of “Diogenes Syndrome”, in reference to the philosopher, as a behavioral disorder characterized by total personal and social abandonment and the accumulation in the home of large amounts of garbage. But if we look at history, the connection of this disorder with the behavior of the Greek is incorrect, since the accumulation of any kind of thing is the opposite of the predicate by that man who lived in a jar and did without everything.