Conquer the need to conquer the world
Everyone wants to rule the world but can't even rule themselves
Man conquers the world by conquering himself
Zeno
During a visit to Athens, Alexander the Great, the ruler of the Macedonian Empire, paid a visit to Diogenes. Approaching the philosopher, who was sitting in front of his barrel, Alexander introduced himself and expressed his admiration for Diogenes' wisdom, asking if there was anything he could do for him. Diogenes, unimpressed, asked Alexander to move out of the way as he was blocking the sunlight. Amused by the philosopher's response, Alexander remarked that if he were not Alexander, he would wish to be Diogenes. To which Diogenes replied that if he were not Diogenes, he would still wish to be Diogenes. This exchange highlights the vast differences between their lifestyles and values. Alexander, a powerful king who lived in luxury, and Diogenes, a humble philosopher who rejected material possessions. While Alexander conquered the known world, Diogenes conquered the need to conquer the world.
It's important to note that Alexander the Great was responsible for numerous atrocities, including the massacres of civilians, forced marriages and rape, and the destruction of cultural heritage. Human society's depiction of such figures as "great" speaks to a culture where the ends justify the means. It's a serious question why so many people were starstruck by Alexander, similar to our modern-day obsession with celebrities, overlooking their misdeeds and the steps they took to achieve their status.
As Buddha said, "To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle." In other words, the true measure of success is in conquering our inner demons rather than external accomplishments or social media followers.