The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be

"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile." — Plato

These immortal words, spoken by Plato, echo through the ages like the tolling of a sacred bell. They speak to the eternal struggle that dwells within every human heart—the battle not against kingdoms or armies, but against the restless spirit within. To conquer yourself is to master the impulses that enslave the mind, the desires that cloud judgment, and the fears that chain the will. It is to rise above the storm of passion and stand in calm dominion over one’s own nature. For in truth, the mightiest empire is not built upon lands and walls, but upon the soul that rules itself.

The origin of this teaching lies deep in the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, who saw the soul as a charioteer guiding two horses—one noble, the other wild. The noble horse represented reason and virtue; the wild horse, desire and chaos. Plato, the disciple of Socrates, understood that the greatness of man is not in subduing others but in mastering this inner duality. For he who rules himself rules all; he who cannot, even if he commands legions, is still a slave. This, then, is the first and greatest victory—the triumph of discipline over indulgence, of clarity over confusion, of virtue over vanity.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, conqueror of nations, pupil of Aristotle, and ruler of an empire stretching to the ends of the known world. Though he subdued mighty kings and stormed the gates of cities, he could not always master his own temper. In one moment of fury, he slew his dearest friend, Cleitus, over a drunken quarrel. The man who had conquered the earth wept as a child, broken by the realization that he had not conquered himself. In that instant, Alexander learned the bitter truth of Plato’s words: that the self, unruled, is the most dangerous enemy of all.

To be conquered by yourself is indeed a vile defeat—not because it brings shame before others, but because it reveals betrayal within. The cowardice that hides beneath anger, the laziness that parades as contentment, the fear that disguises itself as prudence—these are the foes that dwell within our hearts. When we yield to them, we become prisoners of our own making. To fall to one’s own weakness is to build chains with one’s own hands. The wise, therefore, wage war not on the world, but upon the chaos within. They fight silently each day, in the heart’s arena, where victory is unseen but eternal.

Yet the conquest of the self is no easy triumph. It demands vigilance, humility, and patience. It is not won by the sword, but by the quiet discipline of thought, word, and deed. The one who rises early to labor while others sleep, the one who forgives when vengeance calls, the one who endures insult without bitterness—such a one is a true warrior of the soul. He may have no crown or acclaim, but he stands victorious over the only tyrant that truly matters—himself. His peace is his fortress; his integrity, his armor.

In our age of noise and temptation, Plato’s wisdom burns brighter than ever. The world teaches us to conquer markets, to win followers, to amass wealth. But what use is a golden crown upon a troubled mind? What profit is power if one is mastered by greed, anger, or vanity? The man who rules the world but not his spirit is no king but a captive, chained by his own excess. True greatness lies not in domination but in self-command—the steady courage to act rightly, even when the heart trembles.

Therefore, my child of tomorrow, remember this teaching: the battle within is the battle that defines you. Face your fears, restrain your impulses, and guard your integrity as a sacred flame. Each moment you master yourself, you grow stronger than the day before. Speak truth when lies would serve you better. Act with kindness when anger beckons. Persist when weariness tempts you to surrender. These are the victories that matter, the quiet triumphs that shape the immortal soul. For as Plato declared, to conquer yourself is the first and greatest victory—and to do so is to walk as one who is truly free.