I stumbled across one of my favorite philosophical anecdotes this morning on the New Mexico State University Vegetarian Club's site, reposting it here:

• The philosopher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.

Said Aristippus, "If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils."

Said Diogenes, "Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to cultivate the king."