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Alexander writes to Aristotle

334–323 BCE, Asia, on campaign. As Plutarch tells it, centuries later.

Where and when

334–323 BCEAsia, on campaign, not on the map

about 2,354 years ago

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Alexander

, Asia, on campaignAs Plutarch tells it, centuries later

In plain words, ours

You shouldn't have published your private teachings. How will I stand out if everyone knows them? I'd rather excel in knowing the best things than in power.

Thou hast not done well to publish thy acroamatic doctrines; for in what shall I surpass other men if those doctrines wherein I have been trained are to be all men’s common property? But I had rather excel in my acquaintance with the best things than in my power.

Plutarch, Life of Alexander 7.4Translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)Read the full passage (Plutarch, Life of Alexander 7.4, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

Plutarch, writing centuries later, copies a letter he says Alexander sent his old teacher Aristotle after crossing into Asia. Alexander had learned that Aristotle had published books on deep teachings that philosophers share with only a few pupils, and that Alexander had been taught.

Checked claim by claim against: the passage around the quote.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. by 348 BCEabout 19 years earlier Plato defines man as a featherless biped Also about knowing and not knowing
  2. c. 350–336 BCEabout 14 years earlier Young Alexander on his father's victories Same passageMore from Alexander
  3. c. 336 BCEabout 7 years earlier Alexander visits Diogenes More from Alexander
  4. c. 336 BCEabout 7 years earlier Alexander on being Diogenes More from Alexander
  5. 335/334 BCEabout 6 years earlier Aristotle opens his school at the Lyceum Also about teaching and learning
  6. 336–323 BCEDuring it Diogenes meets Alexander Same years
  7. 334–323 BCEThis momentAlexander writes to Aristotle
  8. c. 335–322 BCEDuring it Aristotle on becoming just by just acts Also about teaching and learning
  9. c. 335–322 BCEDuring it Aristotle on one swallow and happiness Same years
  10. c. 335–322 BCEDuring it Aristotle puts truth before friends Also about knowing and not knowing

Just before and after

The text around the quote, word for word from the same translation.

Show the passageHide the passage

Well, then, as a place where master and pupil could labour and study, he assigned them the precinct of the nymphs near Mieza, where to this day the visitor is shown the stone seats and shady walks of Aristotle. It would appear, moreover, that Alexander not only received from his master his ethical and political doctrines, but also participated in those secret and more profound teachings which philosophers designate by the special terms acroamatic and epoptic, and do not impart to many. For after he had already crossed into Asia, and when he learned that certain treatises on these recondite matters had been published in books by Aristotle, he wrote him a letter on behalf of philosophy, and put it in plain language. And this is a copy of the letter. Alexander, to Aristotle, greeting.

The quote: Thou hast not done well to publish thy acroamatic doctrines; for in what shall I surpass other men if those doctrines wherein I have been trained are to be all men’s common property? But I had rather excel in my acquaintance with the best things than in my power.

Farewell. Accordingly, in defending himself, Aristotle encourages this ambition of Alexander by saying that the doctrines of which he spoke were both published and not published; for in truth his treatise on metaphysics is of no use for those who would either teach or learn the science, but is written as a memorandum for those already trained therein. Moreover, in my opinion Alexander’s love of the art of healing was inculcated in him by Aristotle preeminently.

Plutarch, Life of Alexander 7.3–8.1Translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
334–323 BCE. Plutarch says it was written after Alexander had crossed into Asia (334 BCE) and before his death (323); he quotes a letter whose authenticity cannot be checked.
Whose words
As Plutarch tells it, centuries later.
How this post was checked
  • The plain-words line was read against the quote alone by a second, independent pass, which found it adds no claim the quote does not make (2026-10-03).
  • Each claim in the summary was checked by an independent pass against only the material it cites.
  • The quote itself is checked by the build: word for word, once, at the cited section of the stored translation.

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