Explanation: Diogenes of Sinope was a major philosopher of Ancient Greece, known for his… unorthodox wisdom and iconoclasm. He lived in a wine barrel, hung out with stray dogs, and pointed out everyone’s flaws and deficiencies, with shocking accuracy and wit. For this reason, despite his eccentricity, he was a major influence on later schools of Greek philosophy.

Alexander the Great, hearing of Diogenes, came to admire the wisdom of the man he heard of, and visited him in Greece after a few of his conquests. When Alexander came to speak to Diogenes, Diogenes was basking in the sun of a warm day. Alexander asked if there was anything he, a great king, could grant him. Diogenes told him “Yes, stand out of my light” - ie “Stop blocking the sunlight by standing there.”

Alexander would later remark, “If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes.” Diogenes sometimes is said to have remarked later, “And if I were not Diogenes, I would also wish to be Diogenes.”