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increasingly I think the Cynics — classical antiquity's key radical minimalists / self-sufficients / abolitionists / social critics — got to the heart of things, and trail-blazed much of #Stoicism, Jesus, and later social activism. A nice intro: #InOurTime on #Cynicism www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

#cosmopolitanism, the idea of being a citizen of the world, not just of some locality or community, is a key bequest of the ancient Cynic philosophers, specifically #Diogenes (c. 412–323 BCE) who when asked where he was from, replied "kosmopolítēs eimí — "I am a citizen of the world." #Cynicism

"defacing the currency"¹ became the catchphrase of ancient Cynic philosopher/critics because founder #Diogenes when young was accused and exiled for it, then adopted it as a metaphor for rejecting societal conventions. ¹Ancient Gr: paracharaxon to nomisma. Nomisma = 'coinage' or customary law/usage

"My prayer is that my feet be just like hooves…that I need bedclothes no more than do lions, expensive food no more than dogs. Let the whole world be bed large enough for me, let me call the universe my home; and may I always prefer the food easiest to acquire." "The Cynic" dialog, 4thC CE #Cynicism

"My sort of wealth renders its owner generous. I got it from Socrates here, who took no notice of exactly how much he gave, but loaded me down with all I could carry. I in turn begrudge it to nobody…" —from Symposium of #Xenophon, speech of #Antisthenes (c446–c366 BCE), forefather of #Cynic school

"ideology has a hypnotic charm. To wandering humankind it offers an immediately available home…Of course, one pays dearly for this low-rent home: the price is abdication of one's own reason, conscience, and responsibility… [via their] consignment to a higher authority." — #VáclavHavel 1978