--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had rather excel others in the…" description: "\"I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.\" — Alexander the Great" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg" --- # I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is… ![“I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.” quote by Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg) > “I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.” [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing excellence in knowledge over power reflects a noble intellectual pursuit. **In simple terms:** Value learning more than domination. Key Takeaway Seek mastery of ideas before seeking control. Themes knowledge excellence humility Mood thoughtful aspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - mentorship - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy leadership Questions to Reflect On - What knowledge excites you most? - How do you balance learning and influence? A Different Perspective Power can still be tempting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Excellent Extent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-extent-254663/) [Extent Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extent-power-1799647/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-excellent-254661/) [Power Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-dominion-1799648/) ## Related quotes > [I would rather excel in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-would-rather-excel-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent-than-in/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-is-more-gratifying-to-the-mind-of-man-than-power-or-dominion/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [If women only knew the extent of their power!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/if-women-only-knew-the-extent-of-their-power/) [Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/) > [“There is only One holy Knowledge, the excellent knowledge of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-only-one-holy-knowledge-the-excellent-knowledge-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [God in heaven has dominion Over so many events. He can frustrate what seems inevitable, And bring to pass the thing that you least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/god-in-heaven-has-dominion-over-so-many-events-he-can-frustrate-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [ The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him \[Adam\] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-garden-was-regained-god-gave-him/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. The ones that just happen are just roads waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-manful/the-greatest-dangers-you-can-get-into-are-the-ones-you-see-coming-the/) [Melody Manful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-manful/) > [Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/only-he-who-has-measured-the-dominion-of-force-and-knows-how-not-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [And the Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world -whether it be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/and-the-truth-turns-out-to-be-nothing-less-than-the-amazing-but/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [Poverty comes from Hell. Prosperity comes from Heaven. Adam had complete dominion over the earth and all it contains. A. Adam could fly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/poverty-comes-from-hell-prosperity-comes-from-heaven-adam-had/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [“Together my wife and I are building the kingdom of God, exercising dominion, beating back the weeds of stinky dippers, tending the garden God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/together-my-wife-and-i-are-building-the-kingdom-of-god-exercising/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) ## More by Alexander the Great > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. { His teacher was the legendary philosopher Aristotle }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-am-indebted-to-my-father-for-living-but-to-my-teacher-for-living/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There is something noble in hearing myself ill spoken of, when I am doing well;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-is-something-noble-in-hearing-myself-ill-spoken-of-when-i-am/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [If we turn our backs of the Scythians who have provoked us, how shamefully shall we march against the revolted Bactrians; but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/if-we-turn-our-backs-of-the-scythians-who-have-provoked-us-how/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [On their side more men are standing, on ours more will fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/on-their-side-more-men-are-standing-on-ours-more-will-fight/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-am-dying-from-the-treatment-of-too-many-physicians/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [At Achilles tomb, O fortunate youth, to have found Homer as the herald of your glory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/at-achilles-tomb-o-fortunate-youth-to-have-found-homer-as-the-herald/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [For my own part, I would rather excel in knowledge of the highest secrets of philosophy than in arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-excel-in-knowledge-of-the-highest/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [So far as I am concerned, I could not be accused of having set eyes, or having wished to set eyes, upon Darius' wife:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/so-far-as-i-am-concerned-i-could-not-be-accused-of-having-set-eyes-or/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Are you still to learn that the end and perfection of our victories is to avoid the vices and infirmities of those whom we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/are-you-still-to-learn-that-the-end-and-perfection-of-our-victories/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/upon-the-conduct-of-each-depends-the-fate-of-all/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There are so many worlds and I have not yet conquered even one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-so-many-worlds-and-i-have-not-yet-conquered-even-one/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [I consider not what Parmenio should receive, but what Alexander should give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-consider-not-what-parmenio-should-receive-but-what-alexander-should/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) [Explore all 78 Alexander the Great quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) ## More Dominion quotes > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Dominion is a spy novel, a love story, and also I hope gives some sense of the difficulties faced by dissidents under any totalitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/dominion-is-a-spy-novel-a-love-story-and-also-i-hope-gives-some-sense/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Poverty comes from Hell. Prosperity comes from Heaven. Adam had complete dominion over the earth and all it contains. A. Adam could fly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/poverty-comes-from-hell-prosperity-comes-from-heaven-adam-had/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [And the Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world -whether it be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/and-the-truth-turns-out-to-be-nothing-less-than-the-amazing-but/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/only-he-who-has-measured-the-dominion-of-force-and-knows-how-not-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. The ones that just happen are just roads waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-manful/the-greatest-dangers-you-can-get-into-are-the-ones-you-see-coming-the/) [Melody Manful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-manful/) > [“Together my wife and I are building the kingdom of God, exercising dominion, beating back the weeds of stinky dippers, tending the garden God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/together-my-wife-and-i-are-building-the-kingdom-of-god-exercising/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) > [ The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him \[Adam\] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-garden-was-regained-god-gave-him/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [God in heaven has dominion Over so many events. He can frustrate what seems inevitable, And bring to pass the thing that you least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/god-in-heaven-has-dominion-over-so-many-events-he-can-frustrate-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [ It may be said of them \[the Hollanders\], as of the Spaniards, that the sun never sets upon their Dominions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gage/it-may-be-said-of-them-the-hollanders-as-of-the-spaniards-that-the/) [Thomas Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gage/) > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In 1491 the Inka ruled the greatest empire on earth. Bigger than Ming Dynasty China, bigger than Ivan the Great’s expanding Russia, bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/in-1491-the-inka-ruled-the-greatest-empire-on-earth-bigger-than-ming/) [Charles C. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) > [The dominion which the banking institutions have obtained over the minds of our citizens...must be broken, or it will break us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-dominion-which-the-banking-institutions-have-obtained-over-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 382 Dominion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander the Great" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dominion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowled_2583718.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.” — Alexander the Great", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander the Great", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had rather excel others in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-had-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent-than/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```