From the heathen standpoint of course, not from the Christian. Compare the advice of Cato in Horace's "Satires," Book i. Sat. ii. 31-35. It is a little difficult to know what Diogenes' precept really means. Is it that vice is universal? Like Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," Act ii. Sc. ii. 5. "All sects, all ages smack of this vice."
He was asked by Polus, see Plato, "Gorgias," p. 290, F.
"Hippolytus," 986-989.
Cf. Plato, "Cratylus," p. 257, E. ὦ παῖ Ὶππονίκου Ὲρμόγενες, παλαιὰ παροιμἰα, ὃτι χαλεπὰ τὰ καλἀ ἐσιν ὃπη ἔχει μαθεῖν. So Horace, "Sat." i. ix. 59, 60, "Nil sine magno Vita labore dedit mortalibus."
"Midias," p. 411, C.
i.e., occasionally and sparingly.
Diogenes Laertius assigns the remark to Aristippus, while Stobæus fathers it on Aristo.