The Easy Life of the Cynic

Lucian narrates what he calls "An old anecdote about the Sinopean; a report that Philip was marching on the town had thrown all Corinth into a bustle; one was furbishing his arms, another wheeling stones, a third patching the wall, a fourth strengthening a battlement, every one making himself useful somehow or other. Diogenes having nothing to do- of course no one thought of giving him a job- was moved by the sight to gird up his philosopher's cloak and begin rolling his tub dwelling energetically up and down the Craneum. An acquaintance asked and got the explanation, 'I do not want to be thought the only idler in such a busy multitude; I am rolling my tub to be like the rest'" (Quomodo historia conscribenda sit). This story may be a Cynic jibe at the uselessness of war; but it also shows the uselessness of the Cynic.

Maximus of Tyre says; "The Sinopean from Pontus, having consulted Apollo, stripped off all superfluities, freed himself from fetters and went about the earth entirely free, like a bird, not fearing tyrants, not constrained by any law, not disturbed by politics, not hampered by rearing children, not restricted by marriage, not intent upon agriculture, not troubled by military service nor interested in markets" (Diss. 36, 5). Seneca says, "The wise man (Diogenes) was easy going in his way of living" (Epist. Morales 90, 14). Lucian says of Demonax, "Probably he had most in common with Socrates, although he seemed to follow the man of Sinope in dress and in easy going ways" (Demonax 5). Gregory Nazianzen says of Diogenes, "His food was whatever was near and did not require labor" (Poemata Theologica 2, 227). An epitaph of Diogenes credited him with "pointing out to mortals... the easiest path of life" (D. L. 6, 78).

The easy life of the Cynic is explained by Dio Chrysostom; "From public affairs, lawsuits, rivalries, wars and factions he (Diogenes) kept himself clear. He tried especially to imitate the life of the gods, for they alone, as Homer asserts (Od. 4, 805), live at ease, implying that the life of man is full of labor and hardships" (6, 31). Tertullian voices the Cynic point of view as follows. "I owe no duty to the forum, the election ground or the senate; I am... no barking pleader, no judge, no soldier, no king; I have withdrawn from the populace. My only business is with myself. I have no care save not to care. The better life you would more enjoy in seclusion than in publicity. But you will decry me as indolent... None is born for another, being destined to die for himself" (De Pallio 5).

Image: Tertullian
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

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Other Posts in the Diogenes of Sinope series
Blogging Diogenes of Sinope by Farrand Sayre
The Cynics Referred to the Habits of Animals
Slump towards Animalism
Attitude of the Cynics Towards Pleasure
Happiness Did Not Exclude Pleasure
Diogenes as Hedonist
Short Road to Happiness or Short Cut to Virtue?
Despising Pleasure is Pleasurable
What is Virtue for a Cynic: Cats for Thievery
What is Virtue for a Cynic: Promiscuous Sexual Intercourse
The Cynic Sought Freedom
Labor Did Not Enter into the Cynic Scheme of Life
The Cynic was Fond of Comparing Himself with Kings and Emperors
The Object of the Cynic was Happiness
I Am a Citizen of the World
Freedom of Speech is the Most Beautiful Thing in the World

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