--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather excel others in the…" description: "\"I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.\" — Alexander the Great" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg" --- # I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is… ![“I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.” quote by Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg) > “I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers 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. True excellence lies in sharing knowledge, not in wielding power over others. **In simple terms:** Share knowledge, not power. Key Takeaway Value teaching over ruling. Themes knowledge humility leadership education service Mood inspirational thoughtful serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - classrooms - public speaking - community workshops - online courses - leadership training Key Concepts philosophy ethics mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance influence and humility? - What does excellence look like in your field? 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) > [“Everyday is a day in which to excel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-donnelly/everyday-is-a-day-in-which-to-excel/) [Michael Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-donnelly/) > [“The best posture you can adopt when pursuing your goals is neither to stand nor sit. The best position is to STANDOUT! Everyone may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-best-posture-you-can-adopt-when-pursuing-your-goals-is-neither-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Excel and you will get a mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/excel-and-you-will-get-a-mentor/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [For me, the greatest obstacles are never on the ice itself. That's the area I excel in. That's where my passion is. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bancroft/for-me-the-greatest-obstacles-are-never-on-the-ice-itself-that-s-the/) [Ann Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bancroft/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I'm a guy who can play all three downs, and I excel in all areas of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-m-a-guy-who-can-play-all-three-downs-and-i-excel-in-all-areas-of/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [“You carry greatness disguised in tiny potentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-carry-greatness-disguised-in-tiny-potentials/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [There are certain things that make restaurants work and a certain kind of DNA that people who excel in restaurants need. But it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/there-are-certain-things-that-make-restaurants-work-and-a-certain/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [As for a limit to one’s labors, I, for one, do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/as-for-a-limit-to-one-s-labors-i-for-one-do-not-recognize-any-for-a/) [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 > [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. 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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/) > [Africa is one continent, one people, and one nation. The notion that in order to have a nation it is necessary for there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/africa-is-one-continent-one-people-and-one-nation-the-notion-that-in/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) [Browse all 382 Dominion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers 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-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dominion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/alexander-the-great-8774_dominion_i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowl_1802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and…” — 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 would rather excel others in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/#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 } } ] } ```