At the stair-foot Hephaistion was waiting. He happened to be there, as he happened to have a ball handy if Alexander wanted a game, or water if he was thirsty; not by calculation, but in a constant awareness by which no smallest trifle was missed. Now, when he came down the stairs with a shut mouth and blue lines under his eyes, Hephaistion received some mute signal he understood, and fell into step beside him.

Half the world's troubles come from men not being trained to resent a fallacy as much as an insult.

One must live as if it would be forever, and as if one might die each moment. Always both at once.

In hatred as in love, we grow like the thing we brood upon. What we loathe, we graft into our very soul.

It is better to believe in men too rashly, and regret, than believe too meanly. Men could be more than they are, if they would try for it. He has shown them that.

Power is the test. Some, once they have it, are content to buy the show of liking, and punish those who withhold it; then you have a despot. But some keep a true eye for how they seem to others, and care about it, which holds them back from much mischief.

Go with your fate, but not beyond. Beyond leads to dark places.