Another story says that on hearing from the philosopher Anaxarchus, probably a Democritean atomist, that there were innumerable other cosmoses in the universe, Alexander cried because he had not conquered even one (Plutarch, De tranquillitate animi 466D; Val. Max. 8.14 ext. 2; DK 72 A11). Which is worse: an ambition achieved leaving nothing more to strive for, or the recognition that one's ambition can never be completely achieved?When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer - Bristow is only 27!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Alexander the Great and darts
Some marvellous commentary from Sid Waddell on Eric Bristow's darts victory in 1985:
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I'd say the latter, as surely some comfort can be taken from the achievement, even if it does create a vacuum, though it could be argued that both ultimately leave the indiviual with a sense of futility, and how they got there is irrelevant.
Issn't happiness supposed to be the existence of the possibility of a (percieved) positive change?
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