73 Alexander the Great Quotes on Success, Life and Wisdom

Alexander III of Macedon is regarded as one of, if not the greatest military strategists and leaders in world history. He ruled the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon from 336—323 BCE and his empire reached from Macedonia to Egypt and from Greece to India. His words have become well-known throughout history, which has led to many famous Alexander the Great quotes still shared today.

His "Great" nomenclature didn't come without its downsides, however. He was deemed dictatorial, ruthless and was so ambitious that he regarded himself as divine. His victories helped to spread Hellenistic culture across the many regions he reigned over, including the Mediterranean states, parts of India and the Persian empire.

Unfortunately, Alexander the Great did not have any direct heirs, and so Macedonia fell shortly after his death as it was divided up by military generals after a series of civil wars. During his short life, he imparted plenty of words of wisdom and we have them here as the 73 best quotes from Alexander the Great for you to enjoy.

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73 Alexander the Great Quotes

1. "A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient."

2. "There is nothing impossible to him who will try."

3. "If we turn our backs of the Scythians who have provoked us, how shamefully shall we march against the revolted Bactrians; but if we pass Tanais and make the Scythians feel, by dear experience, that we are invincible, not in Asia only, it is not to be doubted but that Europe itself, as well as Asia, will come within the bounds of our conquests."

4. "For my own part, I would rather excel in knowledge of the highest secrets of philosophy than in arms."

5. "Oh! Most miserable wretch that I am! Why have I not learnt how to swim?"

6. "How should a man be capable of grooming his own horse, or of furbishing his own spear and helmet, if he allows himself to become unaccustomed to tending even his own person, which is his most treasured belonging?"

7. "My father will anticipate everything. He will leave you and me no chance to do a great and brilliant deed."

8. "I do not steal victory."

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9. "There are no more worlds to conquer!"

10. "I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well."

11. “We of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war."

12. "As for our foreign troops — Thracians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Agrianes — they are the best and stoutest soldiers in Europe, and they will find as their opponents the slackest and softest of the tribes of Asia. And what, finally, of the two men in supreme command? You have Alexander, they — Darius!”

13. “For my part, I think that to a man of spirit there is no other aim and end of his labours except the labours themselves.”

14. "There is something noble in hearing myself ill spoken of, when I am doing well."

15. “I am involved in the land of a leonine and brave people, where every foot of the ground is like a well of steel, confronting my soldier. You have brought only one son into the world, but everyone in this land can be called an Alexander.”

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16. “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

17. "I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians."

18. “Greatness is not achieved through comfort and complacency, but through overcoming challenges and pushing one’s limits.”

19. "Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters."

20. “I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.”

21. "Soldiers, I had lately like to have been taken from you by the attempt of a few desperate men, but by the grace and providence of the gods, I am still preserved."

22. "In the end, when it's over, all that matters is what you've done."

23. "There are Greek troops, to be sure, in Persian service — but how different is their cause from ours! They will be fighting for pay — and not much of at that; we, on the contrary, shall fight for Greece, and our hearts will be in it."

24. "Through every generation of the human race there has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free and those who are conquered by it are made to suffer until they have the courage to defeat it, or death takes them."

25. “Glory crowns the deeds of those who expose themselves to toils and dangers.”

26. His last words when asked when he wished divine honors should be paid to him: "When you yourselves are happy."

27. "Every light is not the sun."

28. "The end and object of conquest is to avoid doing the same thing as the conquered."

29. "On their side more men are standing, on ours more will fight!"

30. “Remember, everyone’s behavior depends on everyone’s fate.”

31. "False reports have many times done as great things as true courage and resolution."

32. "Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies."

33. "May God keep you away from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger..."

34. “It is not the wealth or power that defines a man, but his character and the impact he leaves on the world.”

35. "Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a lovely thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame."

36. "Are there no more worlds that I might conquer?"

37. “Are you still to learn that the end and perfection of our victories is to avoid the vices and infirmities of those whom we subdue?”

38. “I foresee a great funeral contest over me.”

39. "True love never has a happy ending, because there is no ending to true love."

40. "Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."

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41. “Without knowledge, skill cannot be focused. Without skill, strength cannot be brought to bear and without strength, knowledge may not be applied.”

42. “When my casket is being carried to the grave, leave my hands hanging outside. For empty-handed, I came into this world and empty-handed, I shall go! My whole life has been a hallow waste, a futile exercise, for no one at death can take anything with them!”

43. “When you bury my body, don’t build any momentum and keep my hands outside so that the world knows that the person who won the whole world had nothing in his hand while dying.”

44. “I do not seek to rule with an iron fist but with wisdom and compassion.”

45. “When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back.”

46. "So far as I am concerned, I could not be accused of having set eyes, or having wished to set eyes, upon Darius' wife: on the contrary, I have refused even to listen to those who spoke to me of her beauty."

47. "How happy had it been for me had I been slain in battle. It had been far more noble to have died the victim of the enemy than fall a sacrifice to the rage of my friends."

48. "An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep."

49. “Youths of the Pellaians and of the Macedonians and of the Hellenic Amphictiony and of the Lakedaimonians and of the Corinthians… and of all the Hellenic peoples, join your fellow-soldiers and entrust yourselves to me.”

50. "My treasure lies in my friends."

51. "With the right attitude, self imposed limitations vanish."

52. "There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered even one."

53. "How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens."

54. "Who does not desire such a victory by which we shall join places in our Kingdom, so far divided by nature, and for which we shall set up trophies in another conquered world?"

55. “Each moment free from fear makes a man immortal.”

56. "Sex and sleep alone make me conscious that I am mortal."

57. "Now you fear punishment and beg for your lives, so I will let you free, if not for any other reason so that you can see the difference between a Greek king and a barbarian tyrant, so do not expect to suffer any harm from me. A king does not kill messengers.”

58. "As for a limit to one’s labors, I, for one, do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should lead to noble accomplishments.”

59. "Now that the wars are coming to an end, I wish you to prosper in peace. May all mortals from now on live like one people in concord and for mutual advancement."

60. “Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable.”

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61. "Shall I, that have destroyed my Preservers, return home?"

62. "If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

63. "His father is governor of Media, and though he has the greatest command given him of all the rest of my generals, he still covetously desires more, and my being without issue spurs him on to this wicked design. But Philotas takes wrong measures."

64. "Consider the world as your country, with laws common to all and where the best will govern irrespective of tribe."

65. "I am not interested in the descendance of the citizens or their racial origins. I classify them using one criterion: their virtue."

66. “The sword is just a tool, but it is the mind behind it that wields true power.”

67. "You shall, I question not, find a way to the top if you diligently seek for it; for nature hath placed nothing so high that it is out of the reach of industry and valor."

68. "If differences ever develop between you never have recourse to arms, but solve them peacefully. If necessary, I should be your arbitrator."

69. “I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity.”

70. "But as things are, forgive me Diogenes, that I imitate Herakles, and emulate Perseus, and follow in the footsteps of Dionysos, the divine author and progenitor of my family, and desire that victorious Hellenes should dance again in India and revive the memory of the Bacchic revels among the savage mountain tribes beyond the Kaukasos…”

71. “Holy shadows of the dead, I am not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and brother people to fight one another."

72. "I do not feel happy for this victory of mine. On the contrary, I would be glad, brothers, if I had all of you standing here next to me, since we are united by the same language, the same blood and the same visions."

73. “I may have built an empire, but my greatest legacy is the inspiration I leave behind.”

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