Alexander the Great

by Philip Freeman

History has been so fascinated with Alexander the Great that it has overlooked the genius of his father. But by his supreme skill at diplomacy, his mastery of intrigue, and his revolutionary innovations in warfare, Philip laid the foundation for everything his son achieved.

the universe must have been created by an all-powerful prime mover who, however, took no interest in his handiwork.

by Aristotle

He pioneered the study of ethics and argued that the greatest virtues come from moderation.

Alexander, in some discomfort, at last asked if there was anything he could do for him. Diogenes replied that yes, indeed, he could move out of the way since he was blocking the sun.

“If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.”

Aristotle had taught that bravery in a man was an admirable quality, but that an excess of boldness was undesirable.

Love of praise was a pardonable fault of Alexander’s that in time would grow to be a serious problem.

It was now that one of those fortuitous events in history occurred that changed everything. While he was besieging the town of Mytilene on Lesbos, Memnon suddenly fell ill and died.

were quick to translate it for Alexander: “Sardanapalus, son of Anakyndaraxes, built Anchiale and Tarsus in a single day. But you, stranger, eat, drink, and make love—for the lives of other men compared to mine are not worth even this.”

the ancient world was an age of great mystery and magic. There were doubters, to be sure, but for most people, including Alexander, the gods were everywhere and controlled every aspect of life.

This would seem the ultimate in what the Greeks called hubris, the quality of arrogant self-importance that was the prelude to one’s own destruction at the hands of the divine.

Alexander quickly rejected this suggestion with the retort that he did not steal victories.

jealous men only tormented themselves.

Alexander asked how he would like to be treated, to which Porus replied, “Like a king.”

Alexander, brave deeds are what true men do.”

One story tells how Alexander met a group of these religious teachers living under the open sky in a meadow. When he approached them, they stood and beat their feet on the ground. Alexander asked them through an interpreter what this action meant and was told that each man alive holds no more earth than he stands on. They urged him to remember that even though he was busy conquering the world, one day he too would die and possess no more land than that which held his bones.

he always searched for something more, in competition with himself in lieu of another rival.

and implored him to name his successor: To whom do you leave your kingdom? They leaned close to hear his words. With great effort Alexander answered in a whisper: To the strongest.

Aristarchus of Samos, who first theorized that the sun was the center of the solar system and the earth revolved on its own axis,

Alexander was and is the absolute embodiment of pure human ambition with all its good and evil consequences.