Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?
DiogenesRead
It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Desiring little is a mark of greatness and divine nature.
This quote by Diogenes reflects the idea that true fulfillment comes from minimizing one's desires. It implies that those who possess divine qualities or godlike traits are able to find contentment with less, suggesting that the fewer possessions or desires one has, the closer one is to a transcendent state of being.
Themes
DesiresContentmentSimplicityGreatnessFulfillment
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about minimalist living, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of reducing material desires.
More from Diogenes
All quotes βThe art of being a slave is to rule one's master.
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As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task.
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I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.
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We come into the world alone and we die alone. Why, in life, should we be any less alone?
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All things are in common among friends.
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