Do you not think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a vast multitude of them [worlds], we have not yet conquered one?

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

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

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.

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.

I send you a kaffis of mustard seed, that you may taste and acknowledge the bitterness of my victory.

Bury my body and don't build any monument. Keep my hands out so the people know the one who won the world had nothing in hand when he died.