--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alexander the Great once said that 'I…" description: "\"Alexander the Great once said that 'I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity!' What a great illusion is this! Wise man is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_bless_alexander-the-great-once-said-that-i-wou_2154956.jpg" --- # Alexander the Great once said that 'I would rather live a… ![“Alexander the Great once said that 'I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity!' What a great illusion is this! Wise man is he who always chooses to live longer and he who blesses the obscurity!” quote by Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_bless_alexander-the-great-once-said-that-i-wou_2154956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_bless_alexander-the-great-once-said-that-i-wou_2154956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mehmet-murat-ildan-3_bless_alexander-the-great-once-said-that-i-wou_2154956.jpg) > “Alexander the Great once said that 'I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity!' What a great illusion is this! Wise man is he who always chooses to live longer and he who blesses the obscurity!” [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts the allure of brief glory with the wisdom of a longer, obscure life, suggesting that true wisdom lies in choosing longevity over fleeting fame. **In simple terms:** Choosing a long, modest life is wiser than seeking short fame. Key Takeaway Value lasting impact over fleeting glory. Themes life wisdom glory obscurity choice Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal legacy - long‑term goal setting - historical analysis Key Concepts philosophy ethics historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - Is obscurity always better? - What defines a meaningful life? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex historical motivations and may romanticize obscurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscurity/) [Short life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-life/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-live-a-short-life-of-glory-than-a-long-one-of-obscurity/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Fame is a devil; obscurity is an Angel! Stay away from me, Devil; Come near to me, Angel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/fame-is-a-devil-obscurity-is-an-angel-stay-away-from-me-devil-come/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Alexander the Great and his mule driver both died and the same thing happened to both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/alexander-the-great-and-his-mule-driver-both-died-and-the-same-thing/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My ego is nothing - look what Alexander the Great achieved. And I felt he was a figure outside time, a figure we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/my-ego-is-nothing-look-what-alexander-the-great-achieved-and-i-felt/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [“The sarcophagus was huge. Nearly a ton in weight and almost as wide as it was long. He squeezed around it patting it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-noyce/the-sarcophagus-was-huge-nearly-a-ton-in-weight-and-almost-as-wide-as/) [Julian Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-noyce/) > [“Don Quixote is not an imaginary person; he is as real as Alexander the Great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/don-quixote-is-not-an-imaginary-person-he-is-as-real-as-alexander-the/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [No history of the world can be complete which does not mention Mary Helen Keller... whose overcoming of her blindness and deafness were arguably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/no-history-of-the-world-can-be-complete-which-does-not-mention-mary/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) > [ The new king \[Alexander the Great\] should perform acts so important and glorious as would make the poets and musicians of future ages labour… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-new-king-alexander-the-great-should-perform-acts-so-important-and/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Not all gays respond to the same stuff. Would Alexander the Great have loved Auntie Mame?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bawer/not-all-gays-respond-to-the-same-stuff-would-alexander-the-great-have/) [Bruce Bawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bawer/) > [“History has been so fascinated with Alexander the Great that it has overlooked the genius of his father. 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It helped that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-de-haas/alexander-the-great-was-not-worried-about-what-other-people-would/) Ingrid de Haas > [Where did he go!” he bellowed, gloved hands clenching. “I had him in a snare that would take Alexander the Great a lifetime to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/where-did-he-go-he-bellowed-gloved-hands-clenching-i-had-him-in-a/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Alexander III of Macedon is known as Alexander the Great because he killed more people of more different kinds than any other man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cuppy/alexander-iii-of-macedon-is-known-as-alexander-the-great-because-he/) [Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cuppy/) > [“The small Greek city-states could not understand what the organisation of a great empire and the movement of many thousands of men entailed: they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernle-bradford/the-small-greek-city-states-could-not-understand-what-the/) Ernle Bradford ## More by Mehmet Murat Ildan > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Via your talents, you can go beyond the limits!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/via-your-talents-you-can-go-beyond-the-limits/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! 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To find the truth, all you need is a sound way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-in-a-remote-monastery-you-may-still-be-remote-from-the-truth-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [History respects revolutions; and yet, if a revolution is progressive, support it; if it is reactionary, resist it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/history-respects-revolutions-and-yet-if-a-revolution-is-progressive/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Face the truth or the truth will face you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/face-the-truth-or-the-truth-will-face-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Explore all 4,007 Mehmet Murat Ildan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More Bless quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [The word of the Lord is this: "Just bless those that persecute you and ask for Justice, for the battle does not belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/the-word-of-the-lord-is-this-just-bless-those-that-persecute-you-and/) Julia Loren > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray From the great source of mental Day, Free, generous, and refin'd! Descend with all thy treasures fraught, Illumine each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/science-thou-fair-effusive-ray-from-the-great-source-of-mental-day/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-lack-integrity-we-use-power-to-control-when-we-lead-with/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“Be quick to bless but lazy to curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bamikole/be-quick-to-bless-but-lazy-to-curse/) [Paul Bamikole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bamikole/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [May God bless you and your family today and always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-bless-you-and-your-family-today-and-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-bless-the-gods-for-not-letting-my-education-in-rhetoric-poetry-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“ I'm here to bless not to impress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-m-here-to-bless-not-to-impress/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [How many people you bless is how you measure success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/how-many-people-you-bless-is-how-you-measure-success/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) Browse all 1,218 Bless quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Alexander the Great once said that 'I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity!' 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