When Alexander the Great traveled to Sinope, he went to visit the philosopher Diogenes, who was known as the Dog for eating scraps and sleeping in the streets. Alexander asked Diogenes if he wanted anything, and Diogenes replied: 'Only that you move out of my sunlight.'

Alexander was struck; he had crushed entire nations for lesser insults, but instead he remarked: 'Truly, were I not Alexander the Great, I would wish to be Diogenes."

Diogenes, without missing a beat, replied: 'Were I not Diogenes, I would also wish to be Diogenes.'