Long ago in ancient Greece there lived a philosopher named Diogenes He was an unusual man and many stories have been told about him It is said that he gave away most of the things which he owned so that he could have a simple life he had in fact given away everything except three things a purse a cloak and a cap one day he happened to see a young boy dipping water from a well the boy made his hands into a cup and drank when Diogenes saw this he felt he did not even need a cup and and threw is away another said that he would give dingoes anything he wanted Diogenes said that the only thing that he wanted was that Alexander should not stand between him and the sun Alexander was very impressed with dingoes the most famous story about Diogenes concerns a lantern Diogenes walked through the streets of the city of Athens carrying the lantern and he told them that he was looking for an honest man very often in stories and art you will find a picture of Diogenes carrying his lantern