Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. But since that philosopher took not the slightest notice of Alexander, and continued to enjoy his leisure in the suburb Craneion, Alexander went in person to see him and he found him lying in the sun. Thereupon many statesmen and philosophers came to Alexander with their congratulations, and he expected that Diogenes of Sinope also, who was tarrying in Corinth, would do likewise. According to the version recounted by Diogenes Laërtius, Diogenes replied 'Stand out of my light.' Plutarch provides a longer version of the story: Alexander wanted to fulfill a wish for Diogenes and asked him what he desired. Several of the embellished versions of the anecdote do not name either one or both of the protagonists, and some indeed substitute Socrates for Diogenes.Īccording to legend, Alexander the Great came to visit the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope. Versions upon versions of the anecdote exist, with the origins of most appearing to be, either directly or indirectly, in the account of the meeting given by Plutarch, whose actual historicity has also been questioned. Although this coincidence is suspect (it possibly being an invention), the anecdote, and the relationship between the two people, has been the subject of many literary and artistic works over the centuries, from the writings of Diogenes Laërtius to David Pinski's 1930 dramatic reconstruction of the encounter, Aleḳsander un Dyogenes including writings from the Middle Ages, several works of Henry Fielding, and possibly even Shakespeare's King Lear along the way. Plutarch and Diogenes Laërtius report that Alexander and Diogenes died on the same day, in 323BC.

The most popular relate it as evidence of Diogenes' disregard for honor, wealth, and respect. The meeting of Diogenes of Sinope and Alexander the Great is one of the most well-discussed anecdotes from philosophical history.

Diogenes meets alexander