Photo de stock - The alleged meeting between Diogenes, who was relaxing in the morning sunlight, and Alexander the Great. Alexander, thrilled to meet the famous philosopher, asked if there was any favour he might do for him. Diogenes replied, ""Yes, stand out of my sunlight. "" Alexander then declared, ""If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes. "" ""If I were not Diogenes, I would still wish to be Diogenes. "", Diogenes replied. Diogenes aka Diogenes the Cynic, Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. Alexander III of Macedon aka Alexander the Great, 356 BC - 323 BC. King (basileus) of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. From Ward and Lock's Illustrated History of the World, published c. 1882.