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The Master of Those Who Know Delivers on "The Tyrant"

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 5:27 am
by Nicator
Every once in a while, I come across something from Aristotle which immediately lends itself to Alexander. Sometimes, I'm left wondering, who influenced who?

Excerpt from book 5 on The Politics...

"He should appear, not harsh, but dignified, and when men meet him they should look upon him with reverence, and not with fear. Yet it is hard for him to be respected if he inspires no respect, and therefore whatever virtues he may neglect, at least he should maintain the character of a great soldier, and produce the impression that he is one. Neither he nor any of his associates should ever be guilty of the least offense against modesty towards the young of either sex who are his subjects, and the women of his family should observe a like self-control towards other women; the insolence of women has ruined many tyrannies. In the indulgence of pleasures he should be the opposite of our modern tyrants, who not only begin at dawn and pass whole days in sensuality, but want other men to see them, that they may admire their happy and blessed lot. In these things a tyrant should if possible be moderate, or at any rate should not parade his vices to the world; for a drunken and drowsy tyrant is soon despised and attacked; not so he who is temperate and wide awake."

The whole passage here...

http://www2.idehist.uu.se/distans/ilmh/ ... tyrant.htm

Re: The Master of Those Who Know Delivers on "The Tyrant"

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:33 pm
by HappylandIL
It seems a study of Aristotle should produce insights into Alexander. Not the other way around.