--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bury me on my face,\" said Diogenes; and…" description: "\"Bury me on my face,\" said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, \"Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.\" — Diogene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/diogenes-laertius-13984_diogenes_bury-me-on-my-face-said-diogenes-and-whe_3101592.jpg" --- # Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked… ![“Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.” quote by Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/diogenes-laertius-13984_diogenes_bury-me-on-my-face-said-diogenes-and-whe_3101592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/diogenes-laertius-13984_diogenes_bury-me-on-my-face-said-diogenes-and-whe_3101592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/diogenes-laertius-13984_diogenes_bury-me-on-my-face-said-diogenes-and-whe_3101592.jpg) > “Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.” [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests that death will invert all worldly concerns, making current anxieties trivial. **In simple terms:** Death will reverse our priorities. Key Takeaway Embrace present life, not fear of death. Themes mortality philosophy impermanence Mood reflective serene Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - confronting fear - accepting change - living fully Key Concepts stoicism existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - What would you change if you knew everything ends? - How does this view affect daily worries? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too bleak for comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bury Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bury-face-4866555/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diogenes/) [Diogenes Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diogenes-asked-824428/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-diogenes-3544161/) [Turned Upside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-upside-553287/) [Upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upside-down/) ## Related quotes > [When Alexander the Great visited the philosopher Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for him, Diogenes is said to have replied: ‘Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-alexander-the-great-visited-the-philosopher-diogenes-and-asked/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Diogenes, when asked from what country he came, replied, "I am a citizen of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/diogenes-when-asked-from-what-country-he-came-replied-i-am-a-citizen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Diogenes was asked what wine he liked best; and he answered as I would have done when he said, "Somebody else's".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/diogenes-was-asked-what-wine-he-liked-best-and-he-answered-as-i-would/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The philosopher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-philosopher-diogenes-was-eating-bread-and-lentils-for-supper-he/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The beautiful heroine might be thinking, How long must I bury my face on this wretched man's shoulder? Such is not the always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivor-novello/the-beautiful-heroine-might-be-thinking-how-long-must-i-bury-my-face/) [Ivor Novello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivor-novello/) > [There's no quiet place here on earth for our love, not in the village and not anywhere else, so I picture a grave, deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/there-s-no-quiet-place-here-on-earth-for-our-love-not-in-the-village/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Anyone can lose their home and find their life is turned upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/anyone-can-lose-their-home-and-find-their-life-is-turned-upside-down/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [“The truth of the matter is that the whole world has already been turned upside down by the work of Jesus Christ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-that-the-whole-world-has-already-been/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I got fired from WWE and it felt like our lives got turned upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-logan/i-got-fired-from-wwe-and-it-felt-like-our-lives-got-turned-upside-down/) [Sarah Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-logan/) > [He had the air of a spy in a melodrama, missing nothing, liking nothing, looking forward to the great day when everything would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-the-air-of-a-spy-in-a-melodrama-missing-nothing-liking-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My characters are turned upside down and trying to reinvent themselves but don't need a white knight. They can save themselves in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/my-characters-are-turned-upside-down-and-trying-to-reinvent/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [It feels like the whole world has turned upside down. There aren't any more rules. Hey,' I say to Sam, because if the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-feels-like-the-whole-world-has-turned-upside-down-there-aren-t-any/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Bottom is bottom, even if it is turned upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/bottom-is-bottom-even-if-it-is-turned-upside-down/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [My life got turned upside down when I found out I had cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taboo/my-life-got-turned-upside-down-when-i-found-out-i-had-cancer/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taboo/) > [He sighed, wondering how his life had been turned upside down by this woman in less than forty-eight hours. Correction: by this woman, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/he-sighed-wondering-how-his-life-had-been-turned-upside-down-by-this/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## More by Diogenes Laertius > [Pythagoras used to say that he had received as a gift from Mercury the perpetual transmigration of his soul, so that it was constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/pythagoras-used-to-say-that-he-had-received-as-a-gift-from-mercury/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Anarcharsis, on learning that the sides of a ship were four fingers thick, said that "the passengers were just that distance from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anarcharsis-on-learning-that-the-sides-of-a-ship-were-four-fingers/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Courage, my boy! that is the complexion of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/courage-my-boy-that-is-the-complexion-of-virtue/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Aristippus said that a wise man's country was the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/aristippus-said-that-a-wise-man-s-country-was-the-world/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Arcesilaus had a peculiar habit while conversing of using the expression, "My opinion is," and "So and so will not agree to this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/arcesilaus-had-a-peculiar-habit-while-conversing-of-using-the/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Bion used to say that the way to the shades below was easy; he could go there with his eyes shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/bion-used-to-say-that-the-way-to-the-shades-below-was-easy-he-could/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Diogenes said once to a person who was showing him a dial, "It is a very useful thing to save a man from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/diogenes-said-once-to-a-person-who-was-showing-him-a-dial-it-is-a/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“Step out of my sunlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/step-out-of-my-sunlight/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Plato affirmed that the soul was immortal and clothed in many bodies successively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/plato-affirmed-that-the-soul-was-immortal-and-clothed-in-many-bodies/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [When asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, “Not to unlearn what you have learned!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/when-asked-what-learning-was-the-most-necessary-he-said-not-to/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Anaximander used to assert that the primary cause of all things was the Infinite,-not defining exactly whether he meant air or water or anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anaximander-used-to-assert-that-the-primary-cause-of-all-things-was/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [If appearances are deceitful, then they do not deserve any confidence when they assert what appears to them to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/if-appearances-are-deceitful-then-they-do-not-deserve-any-confidence/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [There is a written and an unwritten law. The one by which we regulate our constitutions in our cities is the written law; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/there-is-a-written-and-an-unwritten-law-the-one-by-which-we-regulate/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Aristippus being asked what were the most necessary things for well-born boys to learn, said, "Those things which they will put in practice when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/aristippus-being-asked-what-were-the-most-necessary-things-for-well/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“One day a man invited him into a richly furnished house, saying 'be careful not to spit on the floor.' Diogenes, who needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/one-day-a-man-invited-him-into-a-richly-furnished-house-saying-be/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) [Explore all 48 Diogenes Laertius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) ## More Diogenes quotes > [Perdiccas threatened to put him to death unless he came to him, "That's nothing wonderful," Diogenes said, "for a beetle or a tarantula would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/perdiccas-threatened-to-put-him-to-death-unless-he-came-to-him-that-s/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“Hers was the perfect love that dwells on the other's happiness, and not on its own. She knew that, though for the time being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baroness-emma-orczy/hers-was-the-perfect-love-that-dwells-on-the-other-s-happiness-and/) [Baroness Emma Orczy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baroness-emma-orczy/) > [Diogenes said once to a person who was showing him a dial, "It is a very useful thing to save a man from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/diogenes-said-once-to-a-person-who-was-showing-him-a-dial-it-is-a/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“There are many men in London, you know, who, some from shyness, some from misanthropy, have no wish for the company of their fellows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/there-are-many-men-in-london-you-know-who-some-from-shyness-some-from/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“but because she had at once classed him in that catalogue of bipeds whom Plato endeavors to withdraw from the appellation of men, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/but-because-she-had-at-once-classed-him-in-that-catalogue-of-bipeds/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [The sordid meal of the Cynics contributed neither to their tranquillity nor to their modesty. Pride went with Diogenes into his tub; and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/the-sordid-meal-of-the-cynics-contributed-neither-to-their/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [“One day a man invited him into a richly furnished house, saying 'be careful not to spit on the floor.' Diogenes, who needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/one-day-a-man-invited-him-into-a-richly-furnished-house-saying-be/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“How miraculous it was, noted Diogenes, that whenever one felt that sort of urge, one could readily masturbate. But conversely how disheartening that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-markson/how-miraculous-it-was-noted-diogenes-that-whenever-one-felt-that-sort/) [David Markson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-markson/) > [Diogenes would frequently praise those who were about to marry, and yet did not marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/diogenes-would-frequently-praise-those-who-were-about-to-marry-and/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“Your conscience troubles you unnecessarily, and you see a deliberate intention in every simple act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baroness-emma-orczy/your-conscience-troubles-you-unnecessarily-and-you-see-a-deliberate/) [Baroness Emma Orczy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baroness-emma-orczy/) > [“Here we have Diogenes, His Highness’ favourite canary. Things are starting to take shape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antal-szerb/here-we-have-diogenes-his-highness-favourite-canary-things-are/) [Antal Szerb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antal-szerb/) > [If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/if-i-were-not-alexander-i-would-be-diogenes/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“She had seen them in turmoil all round her--love, hatred, vengeance, treachery--she herself practically the pivot around which they raged. 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