Secret of Secrets

The Peripatetic [school] asserts that he ascended to the empyrean heaven in a column as if of fire. While he lived, therefore, Alexander grew strong through the observation of his own sound counsel and the imitation of his precept. And thus, he subjugated cities and, triumphing, acquired for himself all kingdoms, and he alone held the monarchy of the entire world, and his fame went forth into every land; and throughout the universal climates of the world, all peoples and diverse nations subjected themselves to his precept and empire—the Arabs and the Persians. Nor was there any nation that dared to resist him in deed or in word. Moreover, Aristotle composed many moral epistles for the sake of the affection of hearts and the final secret. Indeed, one of his epistles is this, which he directed to Alexander. For when Alexander had subjugated the Persians to himself and had taken their magnates captive, he directed his epistle to Aristotle in this form: "O excellent doctor, ruler of justice, I signify to your prudence that I have found in the land of the Persians certain ones possessing abundant reason and a penetrable intellect, studying to dominate over others and to acquire the kingdom, whence we have proposed to kill them all. Whatever you shall deem worthy regarding this, signify to us in your writings."

Aristotle to Alexander.

"If you are able to kill them, the power is in your hand to do so for the sake of the kingdom; yet you will not be able to kill the land. But if you can imitate the air and water of that land, and also the arrangement of the cities, you will fulfill your purpose. If, however, you wish to rule over them with goodness, hear them with bignity. If you do this, I carry the confidence that, with God’s help, they will all be subject to your pleasure and command, and through the love that they will have for you, you will rule over them with triumph, peacefully."

Alexander, therefore, having received his epistle, fulfilled his counsel diligently, and the Persians were more obedient to his empire than all other nations.