Cynicism

Seeing a child drinking from his hands, Diogenes threw away his cup and remarked, “A child has beaten me in plainness of living.”

The modern cynic is often not in the same vein as the ancients. They are just apathetic, but cynicism is a life philosophy. Ancient cynics espoused the Socratic view of education, that any real learning is to be perceived or realized. Convention is without virtue to a cynics view. To a cynic if you’re hungry, eat. If you’re sleepy, lay down and sleep. If you’re angry and feel like yelling, then yell. They deride convention because it blocks that.

“A man once asked Diogenes what was the proper time for supper, and he made answer, “If you are a rich man, whenever you please; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can” Diogenes (Ancient Greek Philosopher; said to be the Founder of Cynicism 412 BC-323 BC)

“True contentment depends not upon what we have; a tub was large enough for Diogenes, but a world was too little for Alexander.” Charles Caleb Colton (English sportsman and writer, 1780-1832)