Diogenes (often called Diogenes the Cynic) was a Greek philosopher who lived around the 300s BC. He taught that a good life is a simple life: need little, tell the truth, and do not care what rich or important people think.

Diogenes (often called Diogenes the Cynic)Diogenes(常被稱作Diogenes the Cynic,犬儒派的第歐根尼) was a Greek philosopher是一位希臘哲學家 who lived around the 300s BC大約生活在西元前300年代。 He taught that a good life is a simple life他主張美好的人生就是簡單的人生: need little需求很少, tell the truth說真話, and do not care what rich or important people think不在乎有錢人或重要人物怎麼想。

Later stories say he lived in a barrel. Though actually, the “barrel” in those stories is more likely a large clay storage jar, the kind used for wine or grain — not a wooden cask. Other famous stories: he walked around in daylight with a lamp, saying he was looking for an honest man; and when Alexander the Great offered him a gift, Diogenes asked him to move aside because he was blocking the sun.

Later stories say後來的故事說 he lived in a barrel他住在一個barrel(木桶)裡。 Though actually不過其實, the “barrel” in those stories is more likely a large clay storage jar那些故事裡的「barrel」比較可能是一個大陶罐, the kind used for wine or grain就是用來裝酒或穀物的那種 — not a wooden cask而不是木製的桶子。 Other famous stories其他有名的故事: he walked around in daylight with a lamp他大白天提著燈到處走, saying he was looking for an honest man說自己在找一個誠實的人; and when Alexander the Great offered him a gift而當亞歷山大大帝要送他禮物時, Diogenes asked him to move aside第歐根尼請他讓開 because he was blocking the sun因為他擋到陽光了。

Cynic here is the name of his school of thought. In modern English cynical means something harsher — believing people are only selfish — which grew out of that tradition but is not exactly what Diogenes was doing.

Cynic here這裡的Cynic is the name of his school of thought是他所屬學派的名稱。 In modern English cynical means something harsher在現代英文裡,cynical的意思更嚴厲 — believing people are only selfish也就是相信人只會自私自利 — which grew out of that tradition這個意思是從那個學派傳統演變出來的, but is not exactly what Diogenes was doing但跟第歐根尼原本做的事並不完全一樣。

The name is a person’s name, so we capitalise it.

The name is a person’s name這是一個人名, so we capitalise it所以字首要大寫。