Alexander the Great and the Pursuit of the Impossible
The quote “There is nothing impossible to him who will try” is commonly attributed to Alexander the Great, the legendary Macedonian conqueror who created one of history’s largest empires before his thirtieth birthday. Yet like many famous historical quotations, its true origins remain murky and contested by scholars. The maxim likely emerged from accounts of Alexander’s military campaigns, biographical writings by his contemporaries, or the embellished legends that grew around him in the centuries following his death in 323 BCE. What makes this attribution so compelling is not necessarily its historical accuracy but rather how perfectly it captures the essence of Alexander’s approach to life—his relentless ambition, his defiance of apparent limitations, and his ability to accomplish what seemed strategically impossible through sheer force of will and innovation. Whether Alexander actually spoke these exact words matters less than the fact that they encapsulate his legendary worldview and have resonated across cultures for over two thousand years.
Alexander III of Macedon was born in 356 BCE into a royal family that occupied the periphery of the Greek world. His father, Philip II, was a brilliant military strategist who transformed Macedonia from a regional backwater into a dominant power, while his mother, Olympias, came from the royal house of Epirus and was known for her fierce personality and deep religious convictions. From his earliest years, Alexander was groomed for greatness through an exceptional education designed by his father and later supervised by the renowned philosopher Aristotle, whom Philip hired as a private tutor. Aristotle instilled in the young prince a love of Homer’s Iliad, Greek philosophy, and systematic inquiry that would influence Alexander’s approach to conquest and governance throughout his life. Yet perhaps more importantly, Philip provided Alexander with practical training in military strategy, horsemanship, and statecraft, ensuring that his education extended far beyond the theoretical into the pragmatic demands of ruling and warfare. This combination of philosophical sophistication and military excellence created a leader unlike any the ancient world had previously witnessed.
What most people fail to appreciate about Alexander is how young and vulnerable he was when thrust into power. When Philip was assassinated in 336 BCE, Alexander was only twenty years old, and many of Macedonia’s enemies and even some of its own nobles questioned whether the young king could maintain his father’s kingdom, let alone expand it. The early years of his reign saw him fighting ruthlessly to secure his position—executing potential rivals within his own family, quelling rebellions in Greece, and consolidating control over fractious factions that threatened to tear Macedonia apart. Before he ever marched eastward to conquer Persia, Alexander had already demonstrated the qualities that would define his legendary status: decisiveness in the face of uncertainty, willingness to take tremendous personal risks, and the ability to inspire fierce loyalty in his soldiers. His conquest of the Greek city-states and southern regions required as much political acumen and psychological manipulation as military genius, yet these accomplishments are often overshadowed by his more famous campaigns in Asia.
When Alexander finally turned his attention to Persia around 334 BCE, he embarked on what many considered a suicidal campaign. The Persian Empire under Darius III was vastly larger and wealthier than Alexander’s kingdom, commanding resources and manpower that seemed to dwarf the young Macedonian’s forces. Conventional military wisdom suggested that Alexander’s smaller, more mobile army should be overwhelmed by the sheer numerical superiority of the Persians. Yet through a combination of brilliant tactics, incredible bravery, and an almost reckless willingness to take personal risks in battle, Alexander defeated Darius repeatedly and claimed the entire Persian Empire within a decade. He fought at the front lines alongside his soldiers, and on multiple occasions was wounded seriously enough that observers questioned whether he would survive. This willingness to risk everything—to attempt what prudent generals would declare impossible—became his signature. He famously cut the Gordian Knot rather than untangle it, embodying an approach that valued decisive action over endless deliberation. In this sense, the attributed quote about attempting the impossible perfectly encapsulates his philosophy.
The cultural impact of this quotation has been considerable, particularly during periods when human achievement and individual will were celebrated over fatalism or acceptance of limits. During the Renaissance, when European scholars rediscovered classical texts and philosophy, the idea of Alexander as the ultimate achiever resonated powerfully with humanist ideals about human potential and the triumph of reason and determination over obstacles. Later, during the Age of Exploration and the height of European imperialism, Alexander’s example was frequently invoked to justify ambitious, expansionist projects and to celebrate the idea that great individuals could reshape geography and impose their will on the world. The quote has appeared in motivational literature, business books, and self-help materials throughout the modern era, often stripped of its original context and pressed into service as a universal principle about human achievement. Military academies cite Alexander and this philosophy as exemplars of decisive leadership, while entrepreneurs invoke his name when discussing the importance of attempting ambitious ventures despite apparent odds. In this way, the quotation has become a touchstone for anyone seeking to justify bold action in the face of skepticism.
Yet it is crucial to examine what this quote reveals about Alexander—and what it obscures. His philosophy of attempting the impossible, while undeniably effective in military campaigns, came at an enormous human cost. The conquest of Asia resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and as Alexander’s power grew, his behavior became increasingly erratic and autocratic. He demanded to be treated as divine, adopted Persian customs and