Alexander the Great died on 10 June 323 BC. Alexander was blessed with a profound educational heritage, since he was a student of Aristotle, who was a student of Plato, who was a student of Socrates. Alexander rose to power at the tender age of 20, after his father, Phillip of Macedon, was assassinated. He died 12 years later, after conquering Greece and the Persian Empire, including areas that now cover Turkey, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and portions of India. Alexander’s leadership spread Greek advancements in art, literature, philosophy, and politics throughout his area of influence.
Here are a few quotes attributed to Alexander:
– True love never has a happy ending, because there is no ending to true love.
– Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies.
– I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.
– If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes.
[Note: Diogenes was a Greek Philosopher who embraced poverty and self-control, forgoing worldly possessions and living in a large clay jar. When Alexander met Diogenes, he asked if there was any favor he might do for him. Diogenes replied: “Yes, stand out of my sunlight.” Alexander declared: “If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes.” Diogenes replied: “If I were not Diogenes, I would still wish to be Diogenes.” When Diogenes was captured and sold as a slave, he was asked to identify his trade, upon which he replied that he knew no trade but that of governing men, and that he wished to be sold to a man who needed a master.]
