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You think he wanted to best his father? He certainly outshone Philip.

Yes, it is very heartfelt, polished and stirring - I'm rather ashamed of my own effort earlier.I think Alexander's motto might have been :
"Ever strive to be the best"This came into my mind one evening after reading about Alexander in Central Asia, and I don't know if it comes from the Iliad ? How would it be translated into Ancient Greek ? RegardsSusan

Is that a passion, or an aim?I think all the answers that have been given so far - from the prosaic to the poetic - have been really interesting. But I started to struggle with making a distinction between what Alexander was aiming to do, and what the passions were that drove him to those aims.So, conquering the world was surely an aim, driven by a passion for war. Driving further and further into Asia was driven by his passion for pushing his own boundaries (which is also evidenced in the assault of Aornus etc. which I think Karen discussed eloquently).All the bestMarcus

I think his passion was to excel, and I cannot add to Karen's excellent assessment.

Such an eloquent answer surely deserves an applause. I'm not sure if it's a true one as i don't think even Alexander himself knew it. But personaly i think it's the closest to the truth.Thumbs up, Karen

Hi Maciek,Interesting look into the psyche, that! Is it not, therefore, an indication of the extreme confidence of the man, that he looked at something and said "I will do that", where lesser men would never have attempted, assuming they would fail.It's true, of course, that we will never know if there was something Alexander looked at and thought "I can't do that, so I won't even try"... but thinking about all the challenges that came his way during those twelve years, I'm not sure I can think of anything that he could have shrunk from attempting. All the bestMarcus

Hi MARCUS!!!I just wonder about it. I'm not sure that it was like this only wanted to discuss such possibility. We all know how good strategist he was, it gives the assumption that he always chose best way and used best method of approach to the battle place and best tactic during battle. So if he knew what was best way for his army maybe he refused to do something what he knew that will be disaster for his conquest. Like sea battle. Parmenion's idea could be perfect from political reason for him but he didn't use his advice. He could stand on one of the ships to beat Persians in all war theaters : land and sea...
Maciek

Were there any ignoble "true" passions?On at least some levels, I wonder whether our Friend's greatest passion(s) were to rid himself of the intense insecurities engendered by his father and the oppressive overprotections of his mother. These passions could explain why he razed almost everything in his path and drank himself to death.

I am sorry but I have to jump in here. This sounds like my horoscope from Heaven Knows horoscopes. You are the lodestar of your life. It probably fits Alexander more than me, but at this point in time I am beginning to wonder...LOLO!

Excellent, Karen! That was the best motivational message I have ever read. Thanks so much.

I read through all the comments. I just read Arthur Weigall's comments that neither beast nor man could defeat him, and that intrigues me.I believe his "passion" is to fulfill his destiny, doing whatever it takes to do it, especially the supplications to the gods. I believe the Gods assisted him in all endeavours.

I agree with Karl that his GÇÖdriving force was to surpass everyone elseGÇÖ and this has also been elaborated admirably by Karen but apart from the names that have been already cited i.e. Philip, Aristotle, Hephaestion and Achiles, I wish to add three more - Olympias, Calanus and Sasigupta. His universalism had something to do with the fact he was a half-barbarian himself - his mother was often the victim of sectarian hatred due to her ethnicity. She was definitely fierce but I am sure that all that we read in the sources about her is not unadulterated truth. Borrowing from Karen I would say that in his laters spiritual GÇÿtransendenceGÇÖ Calanus played a very important role. Finally Sasigupta who was the same as Tiridates, Sissines, Orontobates and Moeris, played a silent role in many of his great military victories. Diodorus only mentions his role in the battle with Porus. It was probably at Hydaspes that the soldiers realised for the first time that Sasigupta who was often on their side (covertly) was now their enemy. This must have been a crucial factor behind the mutiny. In a sense, Alexander had to prove a point in Gedrosia GÇô and he did it with passion.Dr. Pal

Hello,
Thanks Karen for your post- I've read the other posts and without thinking too much myself- I am inclined simply to agree with you,
Take care,
Dean.

I'd just like to say to everyone who wrote kind words about my post on this topic -- thank you!Love & peace,
Karen