DIOGENES, c. 400-c. 325 B.C., was the philosopher who founded the Cynic School of philosophy. He maintained that human needs were very simple and easy to satisfy, and to illustrate this idea he lived in extreme poverty. Jerome quotes Diogenes on poverty, Epistola adversus Jovinianum (Letter Against Jovinian) II.1 (PL 23: 300). Gower gives two accounts of Diogenes's poverty, by which he maintained his independence, Confessio Amantis III.1201-1316 and VII.2217-2320.

Diogenes says that real poverty is to be found where food is very scarce and thin, Former Age 33-37.

The name occurs in final rhyming position, Former Age 35.