--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men…" description: "\"“Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/alexander-the-great-8774_asia_our-enemies-are-medes-and-persians-men-w_2574468.jpg" --- # Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries… ![“Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war. Above all, we are free men, and they are slaves. There are Greek troops, to be sure, in Persian service — but…” quote by Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/alexander-the-great-8774_asia_our-enemies-are-medes-and-persians-men-w_2574468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/alexander-the-great-8774_asia_our-enemies-are-medes-and-persians-men-w_2574468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/alexander-the-great-8774_asia_our-enemies-are-medes-and-persians-men-w_2574468.jpg) > ““Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war. Above all, we are free men, and they are slaves. There are Greek troops, to be sure, in Persian service — but how different is their cause from ours! They will be fighting for pay — and not much of at that; we, on the contrary, shall fight for Greece, and our hearts will be in it. As for our foreign troops — Thracians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Agrianes — they are the best and stoutest soldiers in Europe, and they will find as their opponents the slackest and softest of the tribes of Asia. And what, finally, of the two men in supreme command? You have Alexander, they — Darius!”” [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. Alexander contrasts Macedonian hardiness with Persian luxury, urging his troops to fight for freedom rather than pay. **In simple terms:** Macedonians are tough, Persians are lazy; fight for freedom. Key Takeaway Embrace hard,, fight for liberty. Themes war freedom national identity leadership Mood determined proud Type historical motivational When to use this quote - battle preparation - military training - political propaganda - historical reenactments - educational lectures Key Concepts military strategy cultural contrast motivation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates soldiers beyond material gain? - How does cultural identity shape warfare? A Different Perspective May simplify complex political realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Darius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darius/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Greece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greece/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Persia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persia/) [Persians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persians/) [Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arrian/our-enemies-are-medes-and-persians-men-who-for-centuries-have-lived-2/) [Arrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arrian/) > [“In the foreign country, we call the past, crucifixion was a common punishment. It was invented by the Persians, carried back to Europe by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/in-the-foreign-country-we-call-the-past-crucifixion-was-a-common/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [First of all, there are Persians and Arabs. The fact they share a religion, a Shiite religion, does not mean that they're close. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/first-of-all-there-are-persians-and-arabs-the-fact-they-share-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [As the Persians wrote very little about how they ran their affairs, the Greek propaganda of the 5th century B.C. has for centuries gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/as-the-persians-wrote-very-little-about-how-they-ran-their-affairs/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [“The Persian Version Truth-loving Persians do not dwell upon The trivial skirmish fought near Marathon. As for the Greek theatrical tradition Which represents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-persian-version-truth-loving-persians-do-not-dwell-upon-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [The Iranians and Persians are excellent at the art of negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-iranians-and-persians-are-excellent-at-the-art-of-negotiation/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Their fathers had been slaughtered over the stretch of a half-century by the Persians, their mothers raped. And still they had not caved in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/their-fathers-had-been-slaughtered-over-the-stretch-of-a-half-century/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [The Persians are very fond of wine ... 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Oil and hummus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-became-clear-when-i-got-in-my-car-that-persians-are-only-really/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-the-great/o-man-whoever-you-are-and-wherever-you-come-from-for-i-know-you-will/) [Cyrus the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-the-great/) > [The Persians are called the French of the East; we will call the Arabs Oriental Italians. A gifted noble people; a people of wildstrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-persians-are-called-the-french-of-the-east-we-will-call-the-arabs/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“...Turn our thoughts, in the next place, to the characters of learned men. The priesthood have, in all ancient nations, nearly monopolized learning. Read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/turn-our-thoughts-in-the-next-place-to-the-characters-of-learned-men/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Many Jews in the Byzantine Empire welcomed the Persians. Some saw their arrival as an opportunity to win independence or even just a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-goldstein/many-jews-in-the-byzantine-empire-welcomed-the-persians-some-saw/) [Phyllis Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-goldstein/) > [“I plan to march to the ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea,” the young King said, his mismatched eyes shining with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-ross/i-plan-to-march-to-the-ends-of-the-world-and-the-great-outer-sea-the/) Kat Ross ## 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 Asia quotes > [Firstly, economic globalisation has brought prosperity and development to many countries, but also financial crises to Asia, Latin America and Russia, and increasing poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/firstly-economic-globalisation-has-brought-prosperity-and-development/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [We have reiterated on many occasions that China wishes to establish and develop long-term, good-neighbourly and friendly relations with all countries in south Asia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-peng/we-have-reiterated-on-many-occasions-that-china-wishes-to-establish/) [Li Peng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-peng/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. 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Ott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-e-ott/) [Browse all 770 Asia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war. Above all, we are free men, and they are slaves. There are Greek troops, to be sure, in Persian service — but how different is their cause from ours! They will be fighting for pay — and not much of at that; we, on the contrary, shall fight for Greece, and our hearts will be in it. As for our foreign troops — Thracians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Agrianes — they are the best and stoutest soldiers in Europe, and they will find as their opponents the slackest and softest of the tribes of Asia. And what, finally, of the two men in supreme command? 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