Feel you haven't done well in an Exam -------> READ THIS !!!!!

[holtadit]

I am a History buff; one of my favourite historical characters is Alexander The Great. I have studied this guy from how he was born to the way he supposedly died.

So I have a story to recount to you that will probably make you feel better (considering you have disliked your IGCSE performance so far) :

Alexander's father (Philip II of Macedon) had paid massive amounts of money to get Alexander (in his late teens at the time) tutored by the famous philosopher Aristotle.

Philip wanted Alexander to be like a Greek; cultured, knowledgeable and well aware of the workings of politics.

So Alexander was being shown a dissection of a lamb. He asked Aristotle; 'What gives the lamb life ?'

Aristotle replies 'Its heart circulates the life force that is blood.'

Alexander : 'What moves the heart ?'

Aristotle : 'It is driven by a curious form of energy.'

Alexander : 'Who gave the heart this initial energy ?'

Aristotle was stumped by the question, he truly did not know the answer. He simply ignored it.

On the day of Alexander's graduation Aristotle took him by the side and said :

'My dear son, I know you still have many questions for me.' he continued 'However, I do not possess the answers to those questions and indeed it is you alone who can find them.'

'It is also true that there are some questions to which there are no answers.'

Alexander replied : 'I will prove you wrong. I will travel to the End's of the Earth, I will stand on the banks of the River Ocean* and it is there that I will find the answers to my questions. When I have seen the world and I possess the knowledge I will return and prove you wrong.'

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moral of this story you ask ? Get up and stand up. You may have messed up, but did Alexander remain content with the stories of far off land like Egypt and India ?

NO !!! He went there himself and accomplished his dream - to reach the End's of The Earth.

Will you strive to be like Alexander The Great or will you be another Alexander The Average who walked this earth but never made an impression ?

The choice is yours.

[Twinkle Charms]

nice pretty motivative =)

[holtadit]

nice pretty motivative =)

Thanks. Alexander is probably one of the most inspiring figures of Ancient History - for me at least.

He embarked on an undying quest to reach the End's of The Earth, sadly he accomplished only part of his dream.

He wanted to see the River Ganga at the point where it flowed into the Ocean, his soldiers said they were too tired (they had marched from Greece for SEVERAL PAINFUL YEARS through mountains and deserts) and wanted to go home.

[Twinkle Charms]

whoaa o-kayy

[holtadit]

whoaa o-kayy

His dog Peritas died saving him in the midst of a battle.

His horse Bucheplas died in the Indian campaign - lamed by an elephant. He buried him and built a city in his commemoration.

Alexandria in Egypt was Alexander's vision - the once massive Pharoh's Tower (lighthouse) stood there guiding ships into port. It was destroyed by an earthquake.
 
 

[Twinkle Charms]

damn ...u really are a history freak!! nice , i hate history...buh this story , love it

[holtadit]

To know who you are, you must know where you have come from

hence we must understand our past if we are to comprehend our present existence.

[Saladin]

To know who you are, you must know where you have come from

hence we must understand our past if we are to comprehend our present existence.

That is quite vague. But yes, its good for a first try.

[Ukhti-R]

You is a cool dude Ari!

Errmmm- sorry, I CAN'T BE ANY.

MY NAME ISN'T ALEXANDER

[Ukhti-R]

That is quite vague. But yes, its good for a first try.

Don't be horrid!

[holtadit]

You is a cool dude Ari!

Errmmm- sorry, I CAN'T BE ANY.

MY NAME ISN'T ALEXANDER

There is a desire within us to be great that will eventually manifest itself.

[Ukhti-R]

There is a desire within us to be great that will eventually manifest itself.

And that desire is within mehh

[holtadit]

And that desire is within mehh

Then what's stopping you ?

[Meticulous]

Nice Story Ari

[holtadit]

Nice Story Ari

Not a story, my friend. A fact.