"Our enemies are Medes and Persians, men who for centuries have lived soft and luxurious lives; we of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war. Above all, we are free men, and they are slaves"

Alexander the Great rallies his troops before the pivotal battle against the Persian Empire. He draws a stark contrast between his own Macedonian soldiers and their Persian adversaries. The Medes and Persians, as Alexander frames it, have spent centuries in luxury and comfort. They are depicted as softened by easy living, lacking the resilience and toughness needed for the rigors of war. The Macedonians, by contrast, are presented as forged by adversity. Their upbringing and culture center on hardship, military discipline, and a perpetual readiness for danger. This harsh "school" of life, Alexander suggests, has shaped them into effective and courageous warriors, well-prepared to face any challenge on the battlefield.

Alexander’s emphasis goes beyond mere physical preparation; he invokes a profound sense of freedom. The Macedonians, he claims, are "free men", while the Persians are "slaves", drawing a deliberate ideological distinction. To Alexander and his men, freedom signifies autonomy, self-determination, and honor. The Persians, despite their wealth and power, are seen as subjects entirely bound to their king and a rigid hierarchy, devoid of agency or spirit. In making this comparison, Alexander appeals to the martial pride of his followers. He underlines a deep-seated belief that only those who have struggled and remained free possess the true spirit to conquer.

Furthermore, the statement also serves to reinforce unity and morale among his soldiers, binding them together with a shared identity rooted in struggle and liberty. The implication is clear: the Persian hosts may outnumber them and possess unimaginable riches, but they lack the vital qualities of resilience and freedom. Through this rhetoric, Alexander not only motivates his army but also justifies the coming conflict as a battle between liberty and servitude, valor and decadence, a confrontation in which the Macedonians’ hard-earned virtues win the day.