What Alexander the Great Learned from a Man Who Owned Nothing

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking — Marcus Aurelius

The Fisherman’s Wealth

As dawn’s light shimmered on the lake, the boy watched the man cast his line. Silence stretched between them, punctuated only by birdsong and the occasional ripple.

“You’ve fished here all your life,” the boy finally said, “yet you’ve barely a boat to show for it. Father started like you, but he chased and chased. Now he has boats across oceans, and we want for nothing”.

The man’s rod dipped. A dance, brief but spirited, then a silver glint. He placed the fish in his wicker creel, its weave worn by countless such catches.

As the man gathered his modest gear, the boy waited for a fiery response. But the man merely smiled, eyes crinkling like well-loved leather, and turned towards home.

Later, the boy would remember not any words, but the scent of fresh-baked bread that greeted them, his grandmother’s weathered hands cupping the man’s face, the peals of laughter as his brother and sister tackled weathered knees, and the taste of the morn’s catch.

And he would wonder, silently, what exactly his father had been chasing all those years.

The Conqueror and the Cynic

In 336 BCE, Alexander the Great, the newly crowned King of Macedonia, journeyed to Corinth to consolidate Greek support for his ambitious invasion of the Persian Empire. Amid the political manoeuvring and strategic planning, Alexander’s attention was drawn to a man whose lifestyle was the antitheses of his own grand ambitions. This man was Diogenes the Cynic, a philosopher who had renounced all trappings of wealth and power, living instead in stark simplicity.

To Alexander, destined to be remembered as one of history’s most powerful leaders, Diogenes’ way of life was nothing short of bizarre. Intrigued by the tales of this unconventional sage, Alexander sought him out. Upon finding Diogenes, he saw the philosopher reclining in the sun, basking in its warmth with serene contentment.

Here stood Alexander — the conqueror of nations, a symbol of unbridled ambition — before a man who had forsaken all material possessions and societal status. With a mix of curiosity and perhaps a touch of condescension, Alexander offered to grant Diogenes any wish he desired, confident in his ability to bestow great riches or power.

Diogenes’ response was as sharp as it was simple: “Yes, stand out of my sunlight”.

Diogenes’ story offers a striking lesson for today’s fast-paced world. We’re constantly chasing more — more money, more likes, more fame, more promotions. Sure, these things bring happiness, but it’s short-lived. There’s always more to crave, more to achieve. Diogenes, on the other hand, found joy in the simplest things, like feeling the sun on his skin. He wasn’t chasing fleeting happiness; he was after something deeper — a state of true contentment. The word for this is eudaimonia.

The Dopamine Dilemma

In our ceaseless pursuit of happiness, we often stumble upon the ancient Greek word “eudaimonia.” It’s tempting to translate it simply as “happiness,” but this modern lens clouds its profound depths. Eudaimonia isn’t the fleeting rush of a new purchase or the ephemeral high of a social media like; it’s a state of being that runs deeper than our momentary joys and sorrows.

To grasp eudaimonia, we must first understand the limits of what we call happiness. Neuroscience tells us that our brains are wired for emotional homeostasis. There’s only so much ecstasy, so many dopamine spikes, we can experience in a day, a year, a lifetime. But does this mean that the moments between these peaks are destined for dullness or dissatisfaction?

The wisdom of eudaimonia suggests otherwise. It points to a life where even the quiet moments resonate with purpose, where challenges are met with virtuous strength, where the very act of living is infused with a sense of meaningful, soulful richness. It’s not the absence of struggle or sorrow, but the ability to find growth, dignity, and fulfillment within the full spectrum of human experience.

This deeper, more textured existence is what the Eudaimonia Quest seeks to illuminate. In a world often fixated on the next fleeting pleasure, we turn to timeless philosophical insights that guide us not just towards temporary highs, but towards a life of enduring, virtuous flourishing.

The Path Forward

We’ve glimpsed the contours of eudaimonia — a life rich with purpose, virtue, and soulful contentment. But this journey has just begun. In the weeks ahead, we’ll dive into each facet of this timeless wisdom, making it tangible for our modern lives. We’ll explore the virtues that guide us, the practices that ground us, the science that affirms us, and stories of those who’ve found flourishing amidst life’s full spectrum.

Why embark on this journey now? In our age of burnout and boundless distraction, where likes stand in for love and business masquerades as purpose, eudaimonia isn’t just ancient philosophy. It’s an urgently needed reminder that our deepest satisfaction comes not from material possessions, but from how we live. It’s a path to contributing to a world starved for depth and genuine connection.

So, here’s your invitation: Tonight, before you turn in, think about a moment this week that just felt right. Maybe it was helping your neighbour carry groceries, or getting lost in a book you love, or even just having a quiet cup of coffee at sunrise. Jot it down in a notebook — nothing fancy, just a few honest lines.

This small act isn’t about chasing big thrills. It’s about noticing those little instances when life feels genuinely good, not because everything was perfect, but because you were fully there, doing something that matters to you. Do this every evening for a week. You’ll start to see patterns — the stuff that makes your days richer.

That’s eudaimonia. Not a grand quest for an unreachable ideal, but a gentle awareness of the good already woven into your days. It’s the wisdom of Diogenes and Aristotle, not trapped in history books, but alive in your everyday choices.

Welcome to The Eudaimonia Project. It starts simple: with you, a pen, and a willingness to notice the moments that make your life yours.