高中英语 A Greek to Remember阅读素材

A Greek to RememberDiogenes was a famous Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C., who establish

AGreektoRemember DiogeneswasafamousGreekphilosopherofthefourthcenturyB.C.,who establishedthephilosophyofcynicism. Heoftenwalkedaboutinthedaytimeholdingalightedlantern,peeringaround asifhewerelookingforsomething. Whenquestionedabouthisoddbehavior,hewouldreply,"Iamsearchingforan honestman." Diogenesheldthatthegoodmanwasself-sufficientanddidnotrequirematerial comfortsorwealth. Hebelievedthatwealthandpossessionsconstrainedhumanity'snaturalstateof freedom. Inkeepingwithhisphilosophy,hewasperfectlysatisfiedwithmakinghishome inalargetubdiscardedfromtheTempleofCybele,thegoddessofnature. Thisearthentub,calledapithos,andformerlybeenusedforholdingwineor oilforthesacrificesatthetemple. Oneday,AlexandertheGreat,conquerorofhalfthecivilizedworld,saw Diogenessittinginhistubinthesunshine. Sotheking,surroundedbyhiscountries,approachedDiogenesandsaid,"Iam AlexandertheGreat." Thephilosopherrepliedrathercontemptuously,"IamDiogenes,theCynic." Alexanderthenaskedhimifhecouldhelphiminanyway. "Yes,"shotbackDiogenes,"don'tstandbetweenmeandthesun." AsurprisedAlexanderthenrepliedquickly,"IfIwerenotAlexander,Iwouldbe Diogenes." 提奥奇尼斯是公元前四世纪一位著名的希腊哲学家，就是他创立了犬儒派哲学。 他经常在白天点着灯笼四处走动、张望，像是在找什么东西似的。 当人们问起他这古怪行为时，他会回答说：“我正在寻找正人君子。”