Interim velim a sole mihi non obstes!

“Interim velim a sole mihi non obstes!” is a Latin dictum from Diogenes of Sinope. It means “"For now I [just] want you not to stand in the sun [light] "”.

Origin

Once Alexander the Great came to the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope. Alexander wanted to fulfill a wish for Diogenes and asked him, what he wants. Diogenes just answered: “"Mox ... de ceteris, interim velim a sole mihi non obstes."” ("To this later, for now I just want you not to stand in the sun."). [Valerius Maximus, “Facta et dicta memorabilia”]

Other versions

According to Marcus Tullius Cicero, who refers to the same occurrence, Diogenes answered Alexander with the words “"Nunc quidem paululum a sole."”, which mean nearly the same ("Now come out of the sun a little bit at least"). [Marcus Tullius Cicero, “Tusculanae disputationes” (5, 92)]

References