Definitions HQ

A Cynic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a spy sent ahead by Zeus to find out what is friendly to human beings and what hostile, and to report back without letting fear invent enemies.

A Cynic (n.) must ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be thrashed like a donkey and, while being thrashed, love those who beat him as though he were their father or brother.

A Cynic (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the whole human race for children — all men his sons, all women his daughters — and his rebukes are a father's, not a busybody's.

A Cynic (n.) nowadays ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠is often a table-dog guarding doors, copying Diogenes in nothing but farting in public.

The Cynic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a living exhibit sent by God: no house, wife, bed or tunic, and look how healthy he is.