Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have
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.
"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." These words, spoken by the ancient historian Arrian, echo the very soul of the Macedonian Empire, under the command of one of history's greatest conquerors, Alexander the Great. The battle for supremacy between the Greeks and the mighty Persian Empire was not merely a clash of armies but a collision of ideals: freedom versus slavery, hardship versus luxury, and the warrior's code against the comfort of a peaceful life. Arrian’s words give voice to the ethos that drove Alexander and his people—an ethos born of centuries of struggle, shaped by the harsh realities of life in the rugged Macedonian highlands.
O children of the future, listen well to this ancient truth: the true strength of a nation does not lie in its wealth or its peace, but in the resilience and spirit of its people. The Macedonians, though small in number compared to the vast Persian Empire, were not deterred by their disadvantage. They had been forged in the crucible of constant battle, tested in the fires of danger, and taught the art of survival and war from a young age. It was this relentless training, this life lived in the shadow of war, that made them the fiercest fighters the world had ever seen. They had nothing but their swords, their courage, and their freedom, yet these were enough to bring down the greatest empire of the time.
Reflect, O children, on the nature of freedom. The Persians, as Arrian notes, lived lives of comfort and luxury. Their empire was vast, their palaces grand, and their rulers pampered by wealth and power. Yet, this very comfort became their weakness. The Persian soldiers who faced Alexander and his army were not hardened in the same way. They had grown soft, accustomed to the ease of a life untouched by the harshness of war. When it came time for them to face a foe who had been shaped by battle and hardened by constant struggle, they were found wanting. The Macedonians, in contrast, had been tested through hardship and knew the price of freedom—the price of life itself.
Consider the example of the Battle of Gaugamela, where Alexander’s forces, though vastly outnumbered, decisively defeated the Persian army. The Persian king, Darius III, with his hundreds of thousands of soldiers, was confident in his overwhelming numbers. Yet, it was the discipline, the unity, and the relentless spirit of the Macedonian army that led them to victory. Alexander's soldiers were not just fighting for conquest, they were fighting for their freedom, for the belief that a life lived in freedom was worth more than any luxury or comfort the Persians could offer. The victory at Gaugamela was not just a military success; it was the triumph of a people who knew the value of freedom over ease, of sacrifice over indulgence.
So, too, in the struggles of life today, we must ask ourselves: are we like the Persians, growing soft in the comfort of ease, or like the Macedonians, hardened by life’s trials and struggles? Arrian’s words challenge us to reflect on the nature of strength and freedom. The freedom that Alexander’s soldiers fought for was not a gift; it was something earned through struggle, through constant vigilance, and through the willingness to face danger head-on. In this, they were free, for freedom is not merely the absence of chains, but the ability to stand tall in the face of adversity and to fight for what is just and true.
Thus, O children, learn this lesson from the Macedonian spirit: to be truly free, one must be willing to endure hardship, to face fear with courage, and to resist the temptations of comfort and ease. True strength is not measured in wealth, but in the strength of one’s will, in the ability to stand when the world tries to push you down. The greatest battles of life are not fought on the battlefield, but in the heart—in the determination to remain true to your ideals, to face the storm with resolve, and to fight for the freedom of your spirit.
In your life, seek not the comforts of the world that lead to complacency, but the challenges that will forge you into a person of strength and character. Whether it is in the pursuit of truth, the fight against injustice, or the resilience to rise after failure, know that you are only as strong as the trials you are willing to endure. The lessons of Alexander and the Macedonians live on—freedom is not free; it is earned through the hard school of danger and war, through the courage to stand, and through the spirit that refuses to be defeated. Let these lessons guide you, and may you always be free in your heart, no matter what challenges life may bring.
TTPHAM THI TUYEN
Arrian’s focus on the toughness of Macedonians versus the supposed softness of the Medes and Persians raises interesting questions about cultural pride and bias. Does the idea that freedom and hardship breed strength dismiss the many other factors that influence the outcome of wars, like leadership, tactics, and unity? Is it possible that the Medes and Persians, despite their wealth, were simply more sophisticated in other ways?
PLThao Nguyenn Phan Le
Arrian’s quote feels a bit harsh toward the Medes and Persians, reducing them to nothing more than ‘soft’ and ‘luxurious.’ History shows that these civilizations had their own forms of strength—cultural, intellectual, and strategic. Can we truly make such sweeping generalizations about a people? What is it about the Macedonian mindset that made them view themselves so differently from their enemies, and how did this influence their actions?
GDGold D.dragon
This quote makes me question the oversimplified notion that freedom equates to strength. While the Macedonians may have been trained for war, does this guarantee victory? Could it be that the Medes and Persians, despite their luxury, had other strengths—such as resources, wealth, or diplomacy—that played a bigger role in their success? What’s the balance between physical strength and intellectual or diplomatic power?
TAThe Anh
Arrian’s perspective on the contrast between the Medes/Persians and the Macedonians is a reflection of the mindset of the time. The idea that being trained in danger and war makes a group superior seems to ignore the complexities of civilizations. Isn’t there more to strength than hardship and freedom? What about strategy, resources, or morale? How much of this is a romanticized view of the Macedonian spirit?
MTMinh Trong
Arrian’s quote brings a sense of pride in the Spartan-like discipline and freedom of the Macedonians. It highlights the contrast between the perceived softness of the Medes and Persians and the supposed toughness of Macedon. But how fair is it to reduce an entire culture or people to such stark differences? Can one really attribute the outcome of a war to just training, danger, and freedom, or are other factors at play?