Diogenes, painting by John William Waterhouse (1882). Diogenes is considered one of the first men (preceded by Socrates with his famous phrase "I am neither an Athenian nor a Greek, but a citizen of the world.") to affirm, "I am a creature of the world (cosmos), and not of a particular state or city (polis)", thus manifesting a cosmopolitanism relatively rare in his time. Equally famous is his story with Alexander the Great, who, upon meeting him, is said to have asked him what he could do for him. It turns out that due to the position he was in, Alexander was casting a shadow over him. Diogenes then, looking at Alexander, said: "Do not take from me what you cannot give me!" (variant: "leave me in my sun"). The (probably) second greatest story and proof of Alexander the Great's admiration for Diogenes is that it is said that one day, Alexander asked Diogenes what he was doing among the bones, Diogenes responded with the phrase: "I am looking for the bones of your father, but I cannot differentiate them from the bones of your servants." This answer so impressed Alexander that, on his return, hearing his officers mocking Diogenes, he said: "If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes." 💡👀