Did the Muslim kalifs preserve the original Greek writings,
Yes. The library of Cordoba, Spain was the most renowned library in Europe, where even popes went to study, until the Christian reconquest of Spain in 1492, when it was torched to retrieve the gold leaf that was in many of the books.
and do these writings still exist today?
The libraries of Athens, Alexandria and Cordoba were burned by Christians. There were most probably many more libraries that they torched. Some of the libraries of the Kalifs have survived. Turkey has the Ottoman library today, which scholars can visit to study.
It is best not to marry or raise children. Our race is weak; marriage and children only burden humankind with additional cares. People who choose to marry and raise children for support later regret it when they realize that both entail more trouble, trouble that might have been avoided in the first place. A person indifferent to material things declines to marry or produce children because he knows that he has enough resources on his own for a life of moderation. ‘But life will become devoid of people. Who,’ you ask, ‘will take our place?’ Well, I wish that everyone would turn to philosophy and the world be purged of stupidity. As it is, though, it may be that only people of our persuasion will die out while the rest of the world, unconverted, will go on breeding. But if the human race were to die out, would that be any more lamentable than if wasps or flies became extinct? Such scruples only show the failure of people to see things for what they really are.
I completely conquer with his view 2500 years ago. Nothing has changed.
He was apparently a charming dinner guest:
"At a dinner certain guests tossed bones his way as they might to a dog. He repaid them by pissing on them the way a dog might do."
Here is another example of his charm:
"He was once invited to a stately home where spitting was considered bad form. It happened, however, that he had to clear his throat of phlegm. So he discharged it into his host’s face, with the excuse that no meaner place was available."
Well, if it was the same party, then I can see why he did that.
On pleasure:
"You can even derive pleasure from despising pleasure once you have got used to it. Then pleasure becomes as distasteful an experience as being deprived of pleasure is for people who have not acquired self-discipline."
And finally, on begging:
"He once begged money from a statue. Asked what he thought he was doing, he answered, ‘Getting used to being refused.’ When he begged – a practice he began owing to his poverty – he used to say, ‘If you’ve given to others then give to me too; if you haven’t, now’s a good time to start.’ "
All quotations of, and about Diogenes from: Lucian; Diogenes Of Sinope; Julian (2012-12-06). The Cynic Philosophers: from Diogenes to Julian (Penguin Classics), Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
To me, Diogenes' character suggests a man who was a free spirit, of true authenticity, who had absolutely no fear whatsoever of expressing himself. His attitude must of been - "damn the consequences, I shall speak the truth." This is unusual; it is rare. I remember when I was manic, on occasion, I too could be uninhibited in expressing my views; a feeling of invincibility was at the root of this type of behaviour, but I was delusional; Diogenes was not.
I concur with your impression of Diogenes. While you had some post manic depression, it seems he had none, but then it might have taken him a few decades to get off the roller coaster and keep manic 24-7. It probably had something to do with his practice of self-discipline, and avoidance of pleasure.
