I Would Rather Live A Short

This sentiment is attributed to Alexander the Great in Plutarch's Life of Alexander, reflecting the Homeric ideal of kleos — the glory achieved through deeds that outlast the hero's life. Alexander was deeply influenced by the Iliad; he reportedly slept with a copy annotated by Aristotle under his pillow alongside a dagger. He died in Babylon in 323 BCE at around age 32, having conquered an empire stretching from Greece to northwestern India — an achievement that ensured his name endured for millennia.