Alexander the Great was the Macedonian king and one of the greatest military geniuses of all time. He became king after his father’s death in 336 BC (at the age of twenty) and went on to conquer much of the known world of his time. He is known as “the Great” for his military prowess and his diplomatic skills in managing the diverse populations of the territories he conquered.
When he was 13, King Philip called upon the great philosopher Aristotle to tutor his son. Aristotle ignited and strengthened Alexander’s interest in literature, science, medicine and philosophy.
By the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires in the ancient world, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He is further recognized for the spread of Greek culture, language and thought from Greece to Asia Minor, Egypt and Mesopotamia to India and thereby ushered in the era of the “Hellenistic World”.
He was undefeated and is remembered as the greatest military commander in history. The following is a compilation of some wise words, ideas and perspectives that reveal his unique take on various aspects of life.
Check out Alexander the Great quotes and sayings that have been passed down through the generations to inspire and encourage.
“I owe it to my father to live, but to my teacher to live well.”
“I do not fear lions led by sheep; I fear sheep led by lions.”
“Nothing is impossible for anyone who tries.”
“What we gain by our sword may not be sure or permanent, but the love gained by kindness and temperance is sure and lasting.”
“The heavens cannot yield two suns, and the earth cannot yield two lords.”
“I don’t steal victories.”
“If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.”
“For my own part, I would rather be versed in the knowledge of the highest mysteries of philosophy than in weapons.”
“In every generation of the human race, there has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who dare to conquer are set free and those who are conquered by it suffer until they dare to defeat it or death takes them.”
“Bury my body and make no monument. Keep my hand away so that men may know that the conqueror of the world had nothing in his hand when he died.”
“True love never has a happy ending, because true love never ends.”
“Without knowledge, skill cannot be focused. Without skill, power cannot be carried and without power, knowledge cannot be applied.”
“In the end, when it’s over, it’s what you’ve done that matters.”
“May God save you from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger, and the vengeance of the Afghans.”
“Let us behave so that all men desire to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies.”
“I’d rather live a short life of glory than long obscurity.”
“With the right attitude, self-imposed limitations disappear”
“Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a beautiful thing to live bravely and die with lasting fame.”
“Remember that everyone’s fate depends on everyone’s behavior.”
“Now you fear punishment and beg for your life, so I will release you, if for no other reason than that you may see the difference between a Greek king and a barbarian tyrant, so expect no harm from me. A king does not kill angels.”
“There are many worlds and I have yet to conquer one.”
“Not every light is the sun.”
“The end and purpose of conquest is to avoid doing the same thing as the conquered.”
“More people standing on their side, on our side, will fight more!”
“How great a danger I run to win a good name at Athens.”
“You, I doubt not, will find a way to the top if you seek it diligently; for nature has placed nothing beyond the reach of art and valor.”
“Oh! I’m most miserable that I am! Why didn’t I learn to swim?”
“I wish the Indians believed me a god, for on reports of the enemy’s valor often depends the success of war, and false reports have often done as great a job as true courage and determination.”
“Soldiers, I was lately about to be taken from you by the efforts of some reckless men, but by the grace and providence of the gods I am still preserved.”
“God must have loved the Afghans because he made them so beautiful.”
“I belong to the land of the leonine and the brave, where every foot of earth is like a well of steel, facing my soldier. You have brought only one son into the world, but everyone in this land can be called Alexander.”
“Do you yet learn that the end and perfection of our conquest is to avoid the weaknesses and infirmities of those whom we subjugate?”
“I consider not what Parmenio should receive, but what Alexander should give.”
“I am dying with the help of many physicians.”
“When we give someone our time, we are actually giving a part of our life that we will never take back.”
Further reading: Check our article “Hypecia – The End of the Classical Philosophers” And “The Delphic Maxims, Pearls of Wisdom from the Seven Sages”
Featured Image: Jesus in the Mosaic War National Archaeological Museum of Naples
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