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Quiz about Diogenes the Dog and his Friends

Diogenes the Dog (and his Friends) Quiz

To my surprise I couldn't find a single quiz about Diogenes, that wonderful Greek philosopher, on this excellent quiz-site. Time for a change. Heeeeeeere's Diogenes!

A multiple-choice quiz by muivers. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
muivers

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,406

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
876

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Most of the anecdotes in this quiz are based on the stories of historian Diogenes Laertius (no relative). He isn't always trustworthy, but my motto is: never let the truth interfere with a good story.
When the famous Alexander the Great was in Athens, he visited Diogenes. They met in the streets of Athens and Alexander asked if he could do something for Diogenes. What did Diogenes reply? Hint

No, thank you: I already have slaves.

A province of your empire would do nicely, thank you.

Step aside: I was just enjoying the sun and now you're blocking it.

Go away and kill yourself: you don't deserve to live.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Diogenes was a representative of the cynical movement. The cynics made fun of the Athenian establishment, not just for fun's sake, but as a radical method to question everything and everyone. To what kind of animal does the word 'cynical' originally refer? Hint

fox

snake

lion

dog

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Question 3 of 10

3. Another cynical philosopher was Metrocles. What did he once do to prove that embarassment is not a deadly thing? Hint

He threw olives and garlic at the actors in the Dionysus Theatre.

He dressed like a prostitute and seduced every man he met on the Agora (Market).

He made love with his girlfriend in a park in Athens.

He ate a dish of beans and broke wind all over the city, even in the presence of politicians.

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Question 4 of 10

4. When Crates, the first of the cynics, was old and very ill, he told Diogenes that he would be happy if he got a sword and stabbed him, to get it over with. When Diogenes had returned with a sword and lifted it, what did Crates say? Hint

I already feel much better, thank you. No need to proceed.

A bit shorter in the neck, please.

Hit me on the head: my brains are the source of all my worries.

Welcome, my friend, and goodbye.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. When Diogenes witnessed a particularly clumsy archer, who was practising his skills, what did he say or do? Hint

He urged the man to join the Persian army to do Athens a favour.

He advised the man to become a doctor, which took no experience at all in those days.

He told the man to hold his bow the other way around, i.e. pointing towards himself.

He sat down in front of the target, which he considered the only safe place.

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Question 6 of 10

6. When someone showed Diogenes a tree, from which a woman had hanged herself the previous day, what did Diogenes say? Hint

If only all trees could bear such fruit!

It's a pity: now we must cut that ominous tree and lose all those olives.

Knowing her, it's surprising no-one tried to hang her before she could do it!

I hope she made an excellent scarecrow.

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Question 7 of 10

7. When he had visited the wealthy house of a very rich man, with carpets, mosaics,etc.., what did Diogenes do or say? Hint

He went out, stepped in a puddle and did the tour again, now with mud on his sandals.

He said: 'Congratulations: you are your own slave'.

He spat in the face of the rich man, saying: 'I didn't dare to spit anywhere else'.

He invited the man over to his own house for a guided tour.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Diogenes was once seen in full daylight, carrying a burning lamp. What did he reply, when people asked him what his purpose was? Hint

'I seek a human being.'

'I'm carrying my own Olympic torch.'

'You can never be enlightened enough.'

'Good grief: is that the time? I should stop drinking and finally go to sleep.'

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Question 9 of 10

9. When he heard that the musician Didumon (literally: Twin) was condemned for adultery, Diogenes made a very witty remark. What did he say? Hint

'Now I'm really getting cynical.'

'Why don't we just double the sentence. He deserves it.'

'They should hang him by both of his 'didumoi' (testicles).'

'That's what you get, when you play a double tune!'

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Question 10 of 10

10. Another anecdote. A rich Athenian once asked Diogenes if he would become his son's teacher. Diogenes refused. The man tried to convince him, saying: 'My son really is a smart and educated boy'. What was the answer of Diogenes? Hint

'Knowledge is useless. I just can't teach anyone anything!'

'Go away: I'm having my siesta.'

'I won't do that, but I could teach your wife to stop having sons. It will cost you less!'

'If he's so well educated, he certainly doesn't need me for a teacher!'

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Most of the anecdotes in this quiz are based on the stories of historian Diogenes Laertius (no relative). He isn't always trustworthy, but my motto is: never let the truth interfere with a good story. When the famous Alexander the Great was in Athens, he visited Diogenes. They met in the streets of Athens and Alexander asked if he could do something for Diogenes. What did Diogenes reply?

Answer: Step aside: I was just enjoying the sun and now you're blocking it.

When Diogenes had surprised everyone with this answer, Alexander asked him if he wasn't afraid to be so brutal. Diogenes inquired: 'Are you a good or a bad person?' 'A good one, of course', Alexander smiled. 'Then why should I be afraid?', replied Diogenes.

Answer: dog

'My life as a dog' could have been a movie about Diogenes. He once remarked: 'I am like a dog: I wag my tail for those who give me presents, I bark at those who don't give me anything and I bite everyone who gets on my system'. The fact that the meeting place of the cynics was called Kunosargous did also play an important role in choosing a name for the movement.

3. Another cynical philosopher was Metrocles. What did he once do to prove that embarassment is not a deadly thing?

Answer: He ate a dish of beans and broke wind all over the city, even in the presence of politicians.

Crates, the unofficial leader of the movement, and his friend Hipparchia used to make love in public. They may be considered as Greek hippies. Metrocles however was the bean-eater. When one of his students had broken wind during a lesson, the boy was so embarassed that he wanted to commit suicide. Metrocles 'cured' the boy by eating the beans, then lifting his dress and breaking wind to most everyone they met in the town.

Afterwards he could state that there was no reason why he would die now...

Answer: I already feel much better, thank you. No need to proceed.

He was a blatant coward, that's what he was. All words, words, words, but no guts. When he first met his girlfriend Hipparchia, he took off all his clothes and told her: 'Here you have me, with everything I possess'. The braggart!

5. When Diogenes witnessed a particularly clumsy archer, who was practising his skills, what did he say or do?

Answer: He sat down in front of the target, which he considered the only safe place.

I think he could have said or done all of the above, but Diogenes Laertius mentions only one correct answer.

6. When someone showed Diogenes a tree, from which a woman had hanged herself the previous day, what did Diogenes say?

Answer: If only all trees could bear such fruit!

I know it's all very rude and sexist, but hey: I didn't invent the man. I just make up some of his remarks, but he always out-brutals me. He enjoyed making fun of women. He once saw a woman in a temple, kneeling and then touching the ground with her forehead.

He asked her why she would do that and she said she wanted to pay respect to the god Zeus. He warned her that gods are everywhere and that she was therefore showing her behind to Zeus!

7. When he had visited the wealthy house of a very rich man, with carpets, mosaics,etc.., what did Diogenes do or say?

Answer: He spat in the face of the rich man, saying: 'I didn't dare to spit anywhere else'.

I really love this anecdote. How I wish it were true! A guided tour in Diogenes's house would have been virtually impossible, as he lived in a barrel, in front of the Metro�n. (Mother's Temple).

8. Diogenes was once seen in full daylight, carrying a burning lamp. What did he reply, when people asked him what his purpose was?

Answer: 'I seek a human being.'

This anecdote is pretty well known. By the way, Diogenes does not mention that he is looking for an HONEST person. Any human being will do, according to the text. Many painters have made their own version of this story. You really should try Google or whatever to find some fine examples.

By the way: the Olympic torch is an invention of modern times. The Greeks just held the Olympic Games in Olympia, so there was hardly any need for a run with a torch.

9. When he heard that the musician Didumon (literally: Twin) was condemned for adultery, Diogenes made a very witty remark. What did he say?

Answer: 'They should hang him by both of his 'didumoi' (testicles).'

It's rude, I know. But don't you just love the wit of the remark. In Greek it's even funnier, because the 'didumoi' are written in the form 'didumon' (genitive of contact). A great 'jeu de mots'.

Answer: 'If he's so well educated, he certainly doesn't need me for a teacher!'

Just one more for the road: the philosopher Plato was the favourite target of Diogenes and his friends. When Plato was teaching and defined a man as 'a featherless creature with two feet', Diogenes went off to buy a chicken. He then plumed it, went back to Plato and threw the chicken at Plato's head, saying: 'Here you have a human being'.

Source: Author muivers

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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