Diogenes was a controversial figure.
His father minted coins for a living, and Diogenes was banished from Sinope when he took to debasement of currency.
After being exiled, he moved to Athens and criticized many cultural conventions of the city. He modelled himself on the example of Heracles, and believed that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory.
He used his simple life-style and behaviour to criticize the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt, confused society.
He had a reputation for sleeping and eating wherever he chose in a highly non-traditional fashion, and took to toughening himself against nature.
He declared himself a cosmopolitan and a citizen of the world rather than claiming allegiance to just one place.
There are many tales about his dogging Antisthenes' footsteps and becoming his "faithful hound".
Diogenes and many of the other Cynics walked a lot. There are accounts of Cynics walking to the outskirts of the Roman Empire, other stories of Cynics walking from Palestine to Athens. Diogenes was exiled from Sinope and walked to Athens where he took up philosophy. He also regularly walked from Athens to Corinth and followed the crowds to the Pan Hellenic games right into old age. If I were not me, I would wish to be Diogenes, but in light of the fact that is not possible, then I can have a blog called the Wandering Cynic in tribute, as a mark of respect and as a way of keeping Diogenes lamp lit in this present moment.
Diogenes made a virtue of poverty. He begged for a living and often slept in a large ceramic jar in the marketplace. He became notorious for his philosophical stunts, such as carrying a lamp during the day, claiming to be looking for an honest man. He criticized Plato, disputed his interpretation of Socrates, and sabotaged his lectures, sometimes distracting attenders by bringing food and eating during the discussions. Diogenes was also noted for having publicly mocked Alexander the Great.
Diogenes was captured by pirates and sold into slavery, eventually settling in Corinth. There he passed his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates, who taught it to Zeno of Citium, who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring schools of Greek philosophy. None of Diogenes' writings have survived, but there are some details of his life from anecdotes (chreia), especially from Diogenes Laërtius' book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers and some other sources
Diogenes was captured by pirates and sold into slavery, eventually settling in Corinth. There he passed his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates, who taught it to Zeno of Citium, who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring schools of Greek philosophy. None of Diogenes' writings have survived, but there are some details of his life from anecdotes (chreia), especially from Diogenes Laërtius' book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers and some other sources