--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to…" description: "\"O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you!\" — Alexander the Great" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg" --- # O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you! ![“O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you!” quote by Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg) > “O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you!” [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. The speaker expresses frustration over the effort needed to satisfy others. **In simple terms:** Hard work to please people can feel burdensome. Key Takeaway Balance personal effort with realistic expectations. Themes leadership expectation burden Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - team management - personal relationships Key Concepts Motivation public approval personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - Is the effort worth the reward? - How can leaders set healthy expectations? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of genuine service. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athenians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athenians/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Toil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toil/) [Undergo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undergo/) ## Related quotes > [“Greatness must be hatched and undergo changes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-joseph/greatness-must-be-hatched-and-undergo-changes/) [Ikechukwu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-joseph/) > [“I’d spent my entire life in Seattle, watching others pass me by, day after day, completely oblivious to me. I remained along the background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-sobon/i-d-spent-my-entire-life-in-seattle-watching-others-pass-me-by-day/) [Nicole Sobon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-sobon/) > [Our determination is our wake-up call to our human will, in order for us to create it, we must undergo it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/our-determination-is-our-wake-up-call-to-our-human-will-in-order-for/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [A patient healthy enough to undergo a kidney transplant might someday no longer need dialysis. That would free up a slot for a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-fink/a-patient-healthy-enough-to-undergo-a-kidney-transplant-might-someday/) [Sheri Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-fink/) > [The DoD has never undergone an audit. In 2004, it actually pledged to undergo a full audit by 2007, but that deadline came and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-turse/the-dod-has-never-undergone-an-audit-in-2004-it-actually-pledged-to/) [Nick Turse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-turse/) > [“When we say ‘I’, we mean the story in our head, not the onrushing stream of experiences we undergo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/when-we-say-i-we-mean-the-story-in-our-head-not-the-onrushing-stream/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“You undergo your own incarceration. You may witness your demise piece by piece. You may be one kind of fool who never gets enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/you-undergo-your-own-incarceration-you-may-witness-your-demise-piece/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I cannot understand why any young man - or young woman, for that matter - would wish to undergo the painful process of disfiguring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-cannot-understand-why-any-young-man-or-young-woman-for-that-matter/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [But peace, too, is a living thing and like all life it must wax and wane, accommodate, withstand trials, and undergo changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-peace-too-is-a-living-thing-and-like-all-life-it-must-wax-and/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I was the subject of an experiment in love. I lived my life under her gaze, undergoing certain trials for her so that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-was-the-subject-of-an-experiment-in-love-i-lived-my-life-under-her/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Credit ratings and risk weightings must undergo a thorough process of review and revision. No security or instrument on the planet should have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/credit-ratings-and-risk-weightings-must-undergo-a-thorough-process-of/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-cannot-create-experience-you-must-undergo-it/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Though it's harder to justify the use of a cadaver for practicing nose jobs than it is for practicing coronary bypasses, it is justifiable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/though-it-s-harder-to-justify-the-use-of-a-cadaver-for-practicing/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“You can't create experience, you undergo it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-can-t-create-experience-you-undergo-it/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [All mammals undergo a certain degree of diversification. Darwin knew that. When he drew a family tree, it had many branches on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/all-mammals-undergo-a-certain-degree-of-diversification-darwin-knew/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) ## 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 Athenians quotes > [“The revolt in Asia Minor was snugged out in 494, and the Athenians realized that they had acquired a dangerous enemy. Darius I's first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ryan/the-revolt-in-asia-minor-was-snugged-out-in-494-and-the-athenians/) [Alan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ryan/) > [The great thing about writing about the ancient Spartans or Athenians is that so much knowledge is no longer extant that no one, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-great-thing-about-writing-about-the-ancient-spartans-or-athenians/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [ Everyone, including the Athenians \[...\] are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/protagoras/everyone-including-the-athenians-are-right-to-accept-advice-from/) [Protagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/protagoras/) > [Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/demosthenes-told-phocion-the-athenians-will-kill-you-some-day-when/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Eutrapelia . "A happy and gracious flexibility," Pericles calls this quality of the Athenians...lucidity of thought, clearness and propriety of language, freedom from prejudice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/eutrapelia-a-happy-and-gracious-flexibility-pericles-calls-this/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Sparta, made war inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-growth-of-the-power-of-athens-and-the-alarm-which-this-inspired/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Eloquence, when at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection; but addressing itself entirely to the fancy or the affections, captivates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/eloquence-when-at-its-highest-pitch-leaves-little-room-for-reason-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What made the war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/what-made-the-war-inevitable-was-the-growth-of-athenian-power-and-the/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Being summoned by the Athenians out of Sicily to plead for his life, Alcibiades absconded, saying that that criminal was a fool who studied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/being-summoned-by-the-athenians-out-of-sicily-to-plead-for-his-life/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [ “It was about that time \[415 BCE\] that the poet Diagoras of Melos was proscribed for atheism, he having declared that the non-punishment of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-robertson/it-was-about-that-time-415-bce-that-the-poet-diagoras-of-melos-was/) J. M. Robertson > [The wide difference between the two characters, the slowness and want of energy of the Spartans as contrasted with the dash and enterprise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-wide-difference-between-the-two-characters-the-slowness-and-want/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The greatest and truest models for all oratorsis Demosthenes. One who has not studied deeply and constantly all the great speeches of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-and-truest-models-for-all-oratorsis-demosthenes-one-who/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I will not allow the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/i-will-not-allow-the-athenians-to-sin-twice-against-philosophy/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [ \[Regarding legislative assemblies,\] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/regarding-legislative-assemblies-the-number-ought-at-most-to-be-kept/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/protagoras/the-athenians-are-right-to-accept-advice-from-anyone-since-it-is/) [Protagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/protagoras/) [Browse all 53 Athenians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athenians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander the Great" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-please-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athenians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-please-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/alexander-the-great-8774_athenians_o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-pl_1344289.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“O Athenians, what toil do I undergo to please you!” — 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": "O Athenians, what toil do I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-please-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/o-athenians-what-toil-do-i-undergo-to-please-you/#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 } } ] } ```