It has already been established by the recent work of Heinrich Niehues- Pröbsting that Nietzsche was fascinated by both original ancient Cynics and the various modern manifestations of cynicism. Niehues- Pröbsting has done much to explore the ways in which Nietzsche adopted aspects of the typically Cynic literary paradigms, how he understood Cynicism as a tool of every genuine philosopher used to combat the life-negating affects of pessimism, and how Nietzsche occasionally fancied himself as a modern incarnation of Diogenes of Sinope, ancient Cynicism's probable founder. R. Bracht Branham has continued the effort in this volume with his article, “Nietzsche's Cynicism: Uppercase or lowercase.” Thus far, however, it has only been possible to discuss a limited number of the relevant passages and aspects of this thematically multifaceted relationship. In his correspondence, as well as in the assembled Nachlass collections from both the Leipzig Werke and the more recent Colli and Montinari edition of the Kritische Studienausgabe, Nietzsche makes several significant references to Diogenes that lie outside the scope of Niehues-Pröbsting's focus. This is my point of departure.

Some of these allusions are simply one or two word citations that do not so much bear philosophic content as offer plain evidence that Nietzsche had Cynicism ready in his mind throughout his career in any number of contexts. Some are contained in letters from his friends, almost as privately shared jests, whose importance lies in the fact that they reveal a certain easy familiarity with which his inner circle understood his personal admiration for Diogenes.