--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Alexander saw the breadth of his…" description: "\"“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. (Technically a misquote, but I like the misquote bette..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/plutarch-597_alexander_when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-do_275515.jpg" --- # When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for… ![“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. (Technically a misquote, but I like the misquote better)” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/plutarch-597_alexander_when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-do_275515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/plutarch-597_alexander_when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-do_275515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/plutarch-597_alexander_when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-do_275515.jpg) > ““When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. (Technically a misquote, but I like the misquote better)”” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Alexander feels emptiness after conquering all known lands, realizing no new challenges remain. **In simple terms:** He is sad because there’s nothing left to achieve. Key Takeaway Consider the limits of ambition. Themes ambition fulfillment legacy Mood contemplative melancholic Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal growth - historical reflection Key Concepts imperial conquest psychological limits Questions to Reflect On - What drives a leader after achieving everything? - Can endless ambition be harmful? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexander/) [Domain Wept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domain-wept-2683487/) [Like Misquote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-misquote-2683484/) [Misquote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misquote/) [Misquote Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misquote-better-2683485/) [Misquote Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misquote-like-2683486/) ## Related quotes > [And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-mestrius-plutarchus/and-when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-domain-he-wept-for-there/) [Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-mestrius-plutarchus/) > [“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer". - Milton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/when-alexander-saw-the-breadth-of-his-domain-he-wept-for-there-were-2/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [It's hard to misquote someone who doesn't say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/it-s-hard-to-misquote-someone-who-doesn-t-say-anything/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [Alexander esteemed it more kingly to govern himself than to conquer his enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-esteemed-it-more-kingly-to-govern-himself-than-to-conquer/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“The only good human being is a dead one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-only-good-human-being-is-a-dead-one/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/if-i-were-not-alexander-i-would-be-diogenes/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. 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All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/misquote-edmund-burke-rather-than-milton-all-that-is-necessary-for/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [Whenever Alexander heard Philip had taken any town of importance, or won any signal victory, instead of rejoicing at it altogether, he would tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/whenever-alexander-heard-philip-had-taken-any-town-of-importance-or/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Alexander quotes > [I actually sat down and started three Alexanders at the same time. Two of them went in the trash and got stomped on because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/i-actually-sat-down-and-started-three-alexanders-at-the-same-time-two/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [Life is life, Girls are girls and boys are boys, they change here and there.. BUT ALEXANDER remains the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asking-alexander/life-is-life-girls-are-girls-and-boys-are-boys-they-change-here-and/) [Asking Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asking-alexander/) > [“I am acting, then," continued Alexander, "only on the defensive. The gods, who always favor the right, have given me the victory. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-abbott/i-am-acting-then-continued-alexander-only-on-the-defensive-the-gods/) [Jacob Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-abbott/) > [Lucius Cassius ille quem populus Romanus verissimum et sapientissimum iudicem putabat identidem in causis quaerere solebat 'cui bono' fuisset. The famous Lucius Cassius, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/lucius-cassius-ille-quem-populus-romanus-verissimum-et-sapientissimum/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“That valiant Macedonian supreme commander and emperor Alexander, in his thirties and the future Indian captain-general and emperor Chandragupta just on the threshold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savarkar/that-valiant-macedonian-supreme-commander-and-emperor-alexander-in/) [Savarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savarkar/) > [“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/alexander-the-coppersmith-did-me-great-harm-the-lord-will-repay-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When Alexander saw the depth of his empire he wept for there were no more worlds to concquer. Benefits of a classical education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-gruber/when-alexander-saw-the-depth-of-his-empire-he-wept-for-there-were-no/) [Hans Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-gruber/) > [“Annabeth nodded. "That's right.Alexander conquered Egypt.After he died, his general Ptolemy took over. He wanted the Egyptians to accept him as their pharaoh, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/annabeth-nodded-that-s-right-alexander-conquered-egypt-after-he-died/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“As Alexander would confess years later, sex and sleep more than anything else reminded him that he was mortal. One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-freeman/as-alexander-would-confess-years-later-sex-and-sleep-more-than/) [Philip Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-freeman/) > [I'm a London girl, so I grew up on Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood... Dior, Chanel, the usual suspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-m-a-london-girl-so-i-grew-up-on-alexander-mcqueen-and-vivienne/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [When I did 'Racing Demon' by David Hare, I worked with Paul Giamatti, who had stacks of books in his dressing room. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-o-hare/when-i-did-racing-demon-by-david-hare-i-worked-with-paul-giamatti-who/) [Denis O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-o-hare/) > [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/) > [“Alexander's mere name and the fame of his feats raised rulers and realms across virtually the whole world. 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