Apparently a jib at Alexander's divine pretentions. Alexander therefore had previous grievances against Callisthenes before proskynesis or the Pages conspiracy.And so was Alexander provoked by Callisthenes, who said, when the great bowl was going its rounds, "I do not care to have a drink of Alexander and then have to call in Asclepius."
Makes sense then why Ptolemy might wish to be known as Philip's illegitimate son.So also Ptolemy, when he was jeering at a pedant for his ignorance, asked him who was Peleus' father; and the pedant replied, "I shall tell you if you will first tell me who was the father of Lagus." This was a jest at the dubious birth of the king, and everyone was indignant at its improper and inopportune character; but Ptolemy said, "If it is not the part of a king to take a jest, neither is it to make one."
Alexander's famed generosity therefore may have it's origins in Philip's precedent.And there is the case of Arcadion the Achaean who was always railing against Philip and advising flight
"Until one comes to men who know not Philip;"
when Arcadion later visited Macedonia on some chance or other, Philip's friends thought that he should not be let off but punished. Yet Philip, when he met him, treated him kindly and sent him friendly presents and gifts; and later bade his friends inquire how Arcadion now spoke of him to the Greeks. When all testified that the fellow had become a wonderful eulogist of the king, Philip said, "Then I am a better physician than you."
There was another quote as well about the skill of Philip's physician saving him from deformity when he lost his eye, but I can't find it again now. Anyone? (Don't think it was Plutarch) Did it mean Philip didn't actually lose the eyeball and/or that he wasn't badly scarred by the arrow?