He was the most famous of the Cynics and the pupil of Antisthenes (c.445–c.365 bc). He lived a life of extreme poverty and asceticism in Athens (according to legend, he lived in a tub) and was nicknamed Kuōn (‘the dog’), from which the Cynics derived their name. He emphasized self-sufficiency and the need for natural, uninhibited behaviour, regardless of social conventions. Among the many stories told of him is that he took a lantern in daylight, saying that he was seeking an honest man.